8 Foolproof Ways To Get Over Your Past

You’ve got a lot going on in your life, okay? You don’t need to waste your time and energy trying to get over this guy that clearly didn’t see how fantastic you are. Don’t give him that time: Learn how to get over him fast, and leave him in the dust.

They say there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. But there’s one more—heartbreak. I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but heartbreak is an inevitable part of life. It never gets easier. It’s always going to hurt, guys. But maybe we can make the process a little bit smoother the next time it comes around.

# Develop a loathing for him

This seems a little harsh, because sometimes breakups and heartbreaks are mutual. They might actually be a super nice guy. But do you know how difficult it is to get over a nice guy? Impossible. You need to put a target on him, as public enemy number one. Tell yourself you despise him.

Make stuff up if you have to, but keep telling yourself that he is no good.

# Eliminate the evidence

Old sweaters? Gone. Photos? Gone. Cute letters? SUPER GONE. Eliminate any evidence that he ever existed. Oh, and stop going to that cute pub down the street that you used to frequent when you were together. You don’t need that awkward “Where’s ________?” conversation. Just trust me on this. Rid yourself of his possessions and anything that reminds you of him.

# Social media cleanse

Delete him off all your social media. You don’t need to see his posts. It only tortures you. Even if you ended on good terms, delete him.

If you really ended on good terms, explain to him that you need to get over him, and the only way to do that is to forget about him for a while. If he is really a good guy, he should understand that.

# Save your photos together

I know I told you to get rid of any photos you have with him. I meant physical copies. Unless they are Polaroid pics, keep those. If they are print outs of digital photos that you backed up somewhere online or on your computer, get rid of them. However, with digital photos, I want you to save them all to a USB key.

Then delete them from anywhere else on your computer or social media. You don’t need a surprise reminder of him. But, one day, you may want to look back on these photos, so keep them on a USB key in a drawer somewhere. Then, you can look at them when you are ready—actually ready.

# Acknowledge your good times together

Loathe him, hate him, but remind yourself that there is clearly something you saw in him because he made you happy at some point. Accepting the fact that he once made you happy but doesn’t anymore is a huge step in getting over him.

Sometimes people are great individuals, and even great as friends, but as a romantic couple they don’t work. Maybe their values are different or life goals don’t match up. It happens, so even though you hate him initially to get over him, eventually acknowledge him for the good things he did.

# Thank him for what he taught you

Please don’t actually, because that just opens a whole can of worms that you don’t want. Deep inside, thank him and appreciate him because this relationship taught you many valuable lessons.

He might have taught you to be more patient, or to not put with a man coming home at one in the morning every weekend. Whatever he taught you, you carry it into your next relationship, which will hopefully be better than the last.

# Make a change

If this was a long-term relationship, or even just a relationship that burned too bright too fast, you really need to do some soul searching to feel better. The first step in doing so, may be to make a change. Whether a small change like changing your hair, or a big change like moving across the country. Change might be exactly what you need.

# Find new friends

This one really sucks, but if you continue hanging out with your mutual friends, you’ll run into him and that is going to be rough. If possible, try hanging out with a new crowd of people, at least for now. Fresh faces may also be the change you need to get over him fast.