Whether the guy you've been low-key crushing on has ghosted you, the gal you're almost exclusive with breaks things off, or you and the S.O. decide to split, it's never easy going through heartbreak. It can take a toll on you, and be hard to get over, but with a little help, heartbreak is a little easier. I've had my fair share of heartache and hard times, and this is what has always worked best for me:
1. Change your look
It can be something small like a piercing or a hair trim, or you can do something big like chop off all the hair or get a tattoo. Either way, it changes your look. The point is to become a new persona and shed your skin. After a huge break up, I cut my long hair into a short bob; it was ridding myself of the hair he used to run his fingers through and all the memories of that. That ex will have never touched your tattoo, you piercing, you new hair. You're shedding your skin, in a sense, and becoming a new person.
2. Treat yo'self
You'd be surprised what a new tube of lipstick does to you. Buying stuff makes us happy, so why not get a lil ~som'in' som'in'~ and feel good? I usually stick to something small like nail polish or lipstick, but even something that small makes me smile. It's something good and new in your life. And everybody knows you'll want to show off your new thing ASAP.
3. Spend time with different people
We all run to our best friends when we get upset, but sometimes it's the ones we don't see as often that can help you the most. Being around a crowd or spending one-on-one time with someone you normally don't changes things up. I know that when I get upset about guys, I want to spend time with guys I know (and eat ice cream); Being around guy friends reminds me that not all boys are totally terrible and I feel so much better. It's so helpful just having a fresh face and getting different advice and comfort.
4. Unfollow and silence
It can be incredibly nerve-wracking to get on social media and worry about seeing them with someone else or moving on much faster than you. The easiest solution: unfollow. On Instagram, Twitter, whatever y'all use now-a-days. You can even take advantage of Facebook's new-ish "silence" feature, which allows you to block seeing posts from somebody, or reduce the amount of posts you see, for a period of time. It was released with the phrase 'let's still be friends' in mind, and gives you the time to block out your ex without unfriending them.
5.Get a dating app (or change dating apps)
You don't have to do anything or meet anyone, but sometimes when you get a message from someone extremetly attractive you'll totally forget about Whats-their-name. It's the age of digital dating, so why not jump in and take a chance? There are so many apps out there so you definitely have choices. And if you've had a bad Tinder experience, just jump on over to Bumble or Plenty of Fish. It's a different app so what's the harm?
6. Make a kick-butt playlist
Music is the best therapy. I've got at least five upbeat, good mood, happy time playlists on Spotify. I turn one on whenever I feel down, and I have a little dance party by myself. Or if I'm driving around, I plug in the aux and put the windows down. It's important to pick songs that make you feel good no matter the lyrics. Some good songs to add are: "Broccoli" by D.R.A.M.; "CAN'T STOP THE FEELING!" by Justin Timberlake; and "Pay No Mind" by Madeon (feat. Passion Pit).
7. Have a self-date night
Get a glass of wine, a Domino's pizza, and your favorite movie, and just chill out in your bed all night treatin' yourself right! Show yourself a good night, seeing as how you know yourself best. Being single isn't bad, so make up for the lack of dates by just dating yourself. It's so refreshing to just sit in for a night and have a good time on your own.
8. Change something in your room
Change your sheets, where decorations hang, what side of the bed you sleep on, something. It's similar to the first point I made, and it's kind of like creating a new scene instead of a person. If you switch to sleeping on the left side of the bed, it won't be as easy to remember when you'd lay on the right and Facetime. If you change the placements of the decorations, it'll feel like a different room and not the one you'd stay up way too late in just to talk to them. Create a new space and let it be the start of different things,
9. Let yourself be sad
Bottling in grief and pain isn't healthy. Give yourself time to cry and be upset, and when you're done crying, give yourself time to smile and be happy. Learn to mourn what you once had and accept what's happened. Let yourself be sad, but don't let it consume you. Don't let this be the only point on the list you remember when your heart is hurting. Be sad, then go find the time for all other eight things on the list. There is so much more to single than sad.
