What do you need the most after a tough breakup? As you wallow in the pain of heartbreak, the answer to this question remains elusive. There is no doubt that a breakup can feel like a debilitating punch in the gut. All you want is someone to just tell you about the things to do after a breakup, and you would follow it to the T.
Once the dust settles on this pain and agony, the process of healing begins. The only trouble is that for many people the process can be long-drawn and all-consuming. Channelizing your energies in the right direction can not only provide relief in the short-term but also speed along recovery from heartbreak. For that, finding productive things to do after a breakup is a good starting point. If only there was a list that could give you some clarity on how to heal and move forward!
# Start small as you find things to engage yourself withYou don’t necessarily have to go all out when trying to feel better after a heartbreak. You could begin with small, easy steps. Look around, both physically and metaphorically, and notice things that you could take care of or fix easily. Here is a list of things that could bring you out of your slumber of grief without cruelly yanking you out of your comfort zone:
- Change your sheets/make your bed
- Are there bills to be paid? Do it right now
- When you feel sad and lonely, think, is there something that needed dropping off or picking up? Step out. Get it over with
- Remember that article you had dog-eared ages ago? It’s the perfect time to read it and stow the magazine away for recycling
- Rearrange your furniture for a new look. All the heavy lifting will also get your heart pumping
- Before committing yourself to long walks, go on a short one to the neighborhood florist and get home some flowers
- Peel some oranges, core an apple, slice a banana, wash some berries. Fix yourself a fruit bowl.
# Go on a solo tripThe simplest answer to how to move on after a breakup question is to simply change the scenery you wake up to every day.Go on a trip alone (especially if you have never been on one before). It doesn’t have to be lavish or long. It can be a weekend getaway to someplace nearby.
Going on a solo vacation lets you explore the world like you never have. It makes you independent and holds up a mirror in front of you, letting you know you are strong enough. It keeps your spirits boosted and opens vistas of knowledge. You get to reconnect with yourself, meet new people, make new memories, and savor the experience. Going on a solo trip definitely tops the list of things to do after a breakup that will make you feel better.
# Do something you never thought you’d doNever thought you could go a day without smoking? Do that. Did you thinkyou could never go on a healthy diet? Try that as well. Challenge yourself. Push yourself. Whether it’s going to piano classes or learning yoga or going rock climbing, try whatever takes you fancy. Who knew dying your hair orange could help you get over a breakup?
Doing something you had only planned to do but never had the courage to might guarantee the push you needed to go out of your comfort zone. You are already feeling you have hit rock bottom, things will only get better from here if you just give this a shot.
# Shut yourself off from social mediaSocial media has its perks, but for post-breakup shut-ins, there cannot be a worse enemy. The thing is, social media makes it impossible to practice the holy grail no-contact rule after a breakup. Lying on your couch, flipping through your ex’s recently updated post won’t allow you to mentally disconnect from your ex-partner.
Log out from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the numerous accounts you have spread all over the internet to maintain an emotional distance from your former relationship. If things get hard, replace your smartphone with a phone that doesn’t support advanced technology, at least for some time after the breakup. This digital detox may be a little hard to survive but it sure will be worth it.
# Plan ahead to not let decision fatigue overwhelm youHave you always been a spontaneous person who makes decisions at the last minute? Ever since the breakup, do you feel lost when making even the smallest of decisions? All the more reason why you should force yourself to plan ahead. Your mental energy is not at its prime at the moment. Planning ahead will take away some of that burden and leave you with fewer empty slots to wallow in sadness and drown in tears and ice cream tubs.
Plan what you are going to do in your free time or on the weekend. If you have neglected your friends before, make plans to spend time with them. Visit a family member you have not seen in a while. If you’re lucky to have a good friend who has your back during this tough time, lean on them for support and enlist their help to plan activities that can keep you productively occupied. Keeping yourself busy and engaged is definitely one of the best ways to get over a breakup.
# Declutter and cleanseThe house must be in terrible shape since the breakup. You want something positive to do? Give the house a routine cleanup. A clean house equals a productive mind. A positive mindset will help you heal faster. Fold the clothes and arrange the closet. Throw out the empty wine glasses and clean the dishes that have been lying in the sink for ages.
Is any of your ex’s stuff staring you in the face? Pick it all up and throw it away or stash it in a box to send it back to them. (Resist the temptation to sleep in their t-shirt). All this work will keep you busy and leave you exhausted and help you get a good night’s sleep that’s been missing from your life for so long. It’s the easiest way to move on and find happiness again. To make the experience more cathartic, put on a Taylor Swift playlist and let the streaming tears cleanse your heart as your push through these mundane chores.