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The end of a relationship brings a lot along with it… and it’s not all bad! Unlikely as it may seem, breakups are full of opportunities. Read on for six exciting and important things to think about and do now that you’re back to the single life.
Call Your Girlfriends.
One major pro of being in a relationship is that there’s always some to do things with. This also means, though, that you almost certainly weren’t spending as much time as you would otherwise with your girlfriends. This is a great opportunity, then, to nurture those types of relationships. In addition to rekindling old friendships, this will also help you remember that not being involved with someone romantically doesn’t have to mean loneliness and isolation.
Consider Your Personal Goals & Values.
Just as outside relationships can get neglected when you’re involved with a partner, so too can your own goals and values. This is only natural, since you’re always having to take someone else’s preferences into account. But now that you don’t have anyone else to consider, it’s the perfect time to take stock of what’s really important to you. Go back to the time before your former partner, and think about what truly mattered to you them–and then come up with a plan for integrating those things back into your life.
For example, if living a healthy lifestyle, eating right and/or exercising were all things you aspired to do, now’s the time to make them happen. Using a program like Noom is a great way to get started because you’re matched with a personal coach when you sign up. We also love Noom because it uses cognitive behavior therapy to help you identify the behaviors and habits that are holding you back from reaching your goals. Over time, Noom helps you make small lifestyle changes that have a big impact on your overall wellbeing.
Reclaim Your Space.
Even if you weren’t living with your partner full-time, we’re going to assume that you spent plenty of time together at your home, theirs, or both–and that your stuff did, too. But now that you’re back to not sharing your space with anyone (besides roommates, perhaps), you get to decide what stays, what goes, and where everything should live. Have fun with this! If your style didn’t match with your former partners, use it as an excuse to redecorate. Even if you’re totally happy with your decor, you’re still probably going to have some extra space to play with–so have fun with it!
Travel.
Traveling with a partner is great… in some ways. It means you have someone to share every moment with, and you don’t have to worry about navigating foreign places all alone. But it also means you have to negotiate every aspect of your trip, and almost certainly don’t get to do exactly what you want to. Since lately has likely involved much more about co-travel for you, take advantage of this time and let yourself experience the benefits of the other type of trip. Figure out where you want to go… what you want to do… and go for it!
Take Some Alone Time.
Vacation isn’t the only thing you need to negotiate when you’re in a relationship. In fact, pretty much everything requires some amount of compromise. This includes what you do, what you watch, what you buy, and, less obviously but maybe even more important, how you act. Your words and behaviors reflect not just who you are, but also how you know (or think) that someone else will receive them. Taking some time to just be with yourself, then, is essential. This will allow you to do a sort of reset, getting back to a version of yourself that doesn’t depend on what anyone else thinks, wants, or feels.
Try Something New.
The aftermath of a relationship can feel like nothing but endings. And while a breakup does mean that many things are coming to a close, it also can mean the beginning of other things–at least, if you let it. Think of something you’re interested in but have never had the chance to pursue, and start doing it! Whether this is becoming a vegetarian, taking Pilates, or changing your part, working something new and exciting into your routine will help you shift your focus from the past to the future.
The editors at SheFinds wrote this article in partnership with Noom.
