Having your heart broken is one of the most excruciating feelings someone can endure. Watching someone close to you go through such pain is almost as bad as going through it yourself. Usually this type of pain causes people to stop eating, stop sleeping and mainly just cry a lot. I’m here to tell you enough is enough. I have compiled a list of five rules anyone who is going through a breakup needs to follow to help get through the rough patch of the split.

5. Be sad

Honestly, be sad. Cry until you cannot cry anymore. Go out to the store, get yourself a pint of half-baked Ben and Jerry’s and eat the whole thing yourself in a night. It’s okay to feel sad; don’t fight this feeling, because it will only make it worse. You need to allow yourself to grieve in order to be able to move forward. However, try to do this for only one night up to a week- maximum. You don’t want to stop living your life because you know what? You will survive this even though you may not feel like you will.

4. Stay busy

After your sad grace period, stay busy and active. Go be with friends; I promise they’ll want to be there for you in your time of need. If your friends are busy or you don’t have very many, pick up a new hobby. Start going to the gym and channel that heartbreak into something good. Try to make something positive out of the negative by bettering yourself in ways you didn’t even think were possible.

3. Party

Go crazy. Party, drink, live. I’m sure while you were in this relationship you weren’t as crazy as you once were or you didn’t even go out that often. Head to the bar, get completely drunk and dance the night away. However, make sure you give your phone to a friend or even leave it at home so there aren’t any accidental drunk dials or texts. Go out as often as you feel, but don't let it ruin your life at the same time. Keep up with your job and school work as well because that's still important.

2. Travel

Go be adventurous and see the world. I understand that sometimes it may be hard to have the funds for this right away, but start saving. Put away ten percent of every paycheck into a different account that you can’t even see 24/7. Within a few months you should have enough saved up for a great vacation that will help take your mind off your ex. You’ll be able to explore new places, meet new people and create wonderful new experiences while discovering a whole different side of yourself.

1. Take time for yourself

Do not look for a rebound. Although this may seem like a great idea, it’s not. You’ll be left feeling emptier than before. Take time for yourself to rediscover who you are and what you truly want. Time heals all wounds and as impossible as that may be to believe at the time, it's true. The right person will come around when the time is right, but not if you keep looking in the wrong places.

Remember you are a good person and although it may feel like the world around you is crashing, it’s not. You will survive. You will get through this. Everything happens for a reason. I have come to realize this over the years and I hope you can too. Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of toads before you can get your prince and happily ever after.

Stay Strong. Stay busy. Stay true to yourself. You WILL make it through.