How to Deal With a Breakup Like a Pro

If you've just been dumped, you might feel like you're going to die or never fall in love again.

The good news is that there are ways to cope with your heartbreak and move on as quickly as possible to get back to living your life instead of moping around feeling sorry for yourself.

Here are some ways to deal with a breakup like a pro!

Don't Panic

Your first instinct when your heart has been broken is to fix it.

Don't. The only thing you'll do is set yourself up for more pain by falling back into old habits—like calling or texting them.

Give yourself some time, then move on with your life.

I promise it will happen faster than you think—you need to keep busy and wait for that little voice in your head telling you that it's Time to get back out there again.

And don't worry about looking like a fool while you're doing it; if they cared about how much they hurt you, they wouldn't have done what they did. They're not worth your tears anymore.

Talk to your friends

It's OK not to be OK.

Don't feel like you have to put on your happy face at all times.

It's important to let those around you know that things aren't always good and that it's OK if they're not either.

You don't need to pour your heart out and make yourself cry before them, but just knowing that they care is often enough.

Keep in mind that not everyone will understand what you're going through, and trying to tell someone who already has kids might be a mistake as they could easily say things like I'm sure he will come back, which won't help at all.

Choose wisely who you talk to!

Also, remember that your friends are there for you, and it's best to avoid getting into arguments with them or saying mean things.

When we fight with our friends over breakups, we tend to push them away when we need them most, so try and keep disagreements between each other brief or avoid them altogether by keeping conversations light until you've gotten over your breakup a bit more.

Try using a journal or writing down how you feel about everything instead of letting your feelings get bottled up inside of you.

Think About Yourself First

It can be challenging in moments of sadness and anger, but make sure you're doing what's best for you.

Allow Yourself Time to grieve, cry, sulk, or do whatever you need.

Take care of yourself by eating healthy meals, exercising, and drinking water.

You don't want to hurt your body or mind even more by not taking care of it in your times of grief.

If you need support, talk with a friend or family member, and keep reminding yourself that you will get through it; there will be better days ahead.

If things are too much for you to handle on your own, seek professional help.

Please don't feel ashamed about it either; no one should deal with something like a breakup alone.

Some professionals know how to deal with these situations, and they won't judge you or make you feel worse than you already do, so don't hesitate to get help when needed.

To move forward after a breakup, take small steps each day and try not to overwhelm yourself by thinking about everything at once.

Take Time to Heal

No matter how amicable your breakup is, it will still hurt.

And while Time will eventually heal that wound, doing things in your power to help it along is not just good for you—it's suitable for your ex too.

When you're still in touch with an ex who has moved on, they don't have an opportunity to emotionally move on because they think they may get back together with you down the road.

They aren't over you and aren't as capable of forming new relationships (with someone else) until you have given them time to heal.

It's a win-win situation: take care of yourself, but do so in a way that doesn't make it hard for your ex to find happiness.

Avoid Contact

Instead of calling, texting, or emailing your ex, let them make contact with you first.

It might seem like you're being punished for something totally out of your control (the breakup), but it will help give you some much-needed space from your ex.

Reaching out before they do will only make things more complicated—just wait it out and see what happens!

When they reach out to you again, it might be tempting to contact them right away and continue where you left off.

However, instead of calling or texting right away—or even replying immediately—wait until later in the day when you have Time and can consider what you want to say.

If you get back together, then great; if not, at least you didn't look desperate by reaching out too soon.

Meditate on the Pain

One of my favorite pieces of writing advice comes from Anne Lamott: The lights are on, but nobody's home.

If you find yourself in an incredibly dark place during your breakup, don't worry—it happens.

But try not to lose sight of what's important: You have tools at your disposal that will help you cope.

If all else fails, pray and meditate on God's Word or take up journaling (if you're looking for something less structured).

When you emerge from your cave-like some badass butterfly, you'll have a clear mind and well-worn pages full of prayers and thoughts.

You'll be able to focus on moving forward with confidence.

Give it Time

Give yourself time after a breakup. Don't keep in contact with your ex, and don't date anyone else right away.

At least give yourself two months of avoiding your ex completely.

This will help you feel better because you won't be torturing yourself over them or reminiscing about happier times together.

It's also essential to cut off contact because if they call you, it will be difficult not picking up, especially if there is any chance that you could get back together in the future.

If you pick up, make sure you are strong enough to end things for good. If not, wait until you are ready before contacting them again.

Try Again in Six Months

In life, if you want something done right, it's best to do it yourself.

However, when you're going through a breakup, hiring someone else to handle things may be just what you need.

This can help take some of your focus on moving on with your life and allow you time and space to heal in healthy ways.

But before spending money on professional help from an expert such as a lawyer or financial planner, give yourself six months (not including New Year's Day) from your last communication with your ex-lover before diving in too deep. Y

our emotions will likely have settled down by then, and you'll be able to look at all aspects of your situation more clearly.

If not, there's always next year! A friend who has gone through a similar experience: The loss of love is never easy to deal with.

No matter how prepared you think you are, breakups hit hard—even if they were your idea.

The most important thing you can do after a breakup is to surround yourself with people who care about you.

One way to do that is by surrounding yourself with friends who have similar experiences.

These friends know precisely what you're going through and don't judge you for your feelings; instead, they offer empathy and support while helping guide you back into normalcy.

And once again, try not to rush into anything until six months have passed since your split.