How to Practice Self-Love After A Breakup

Practicing self-love after a breakup involves taking care of yourself emotionally, mentally, and physically. it allows you to process your feelings healthily. A sense of self-worth will remind you that your value is more than a relationship or its end. Practicing self-love after a breakup will help you build resilience and will cause you to strengthen your ability to cope with future challenges or relationship issues. Read more to find ways to practice self-love and how it will benefit you in the long run.

1. Accept Your Feelings

Allow yourself to grieve and feel the emotions. It’s okay to be sad or angry. When we accept the situation for what it is, not how we want it to be. It makes it easier to move on. It is okay and perfectly normal to feel any sense of hurt, sadness, regret, heartbreak, anger, resentment, etc. The key is to accept these emotions and process them correctly. That means not running to a vice to fill the void but processing them.

2. Self-Care

Prioritize your well-being by eating well, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that bring you joy. It is important to take some time to pour into yourself during this time. Remember, the time that you’re single is the time to heal and focus on becoming a better person. When it comes to self-care, this is a crucial step in practicing self-love after a breakup. People can tell whether you take self-care seriously, whether it be internally or externally.

3. Limit Contact

If possible, limit contact with your ex to give yourself space to heal and reflect on what went wrong and what you want moving forward. If you and your partner break up and you still talk to each other, then it isn’t a breakup. Continued contact can reopen wounds and prolong the healing process, making it harder to move on. No contact not only demonstrates self-respect by prioritizing your well-being and respecting your boundaries and needs but it respects the other person’s need for space and time to heal.

4. Seek Support

Surround yourself with supportive friends and family or consider going to therapy. Breakups can be very hard and can sometimes affect more than just yourself. It’s good to have people in your corner who support the decisions you make but will also be a shoulder to cry on. Having the support of your friends, family, and therapist can provide emotional support and comfort, validate your feelings, give you different perspectives on your situation, make you feel less alone, etc. Support accelerates the healing process by providing a safe space to express yourself.

5. Reflect

Use this time to reflect on the relationship, learn from it, and understand what you want and need moving forward. Reflect on what went wrong and what you could have done better. The reflection part of a breakup is what helps dive into your flaws and what you could do to become a better person. Not only does it help you figure out what you need to work on within yourself, but it also helps you realize what you do and don’t want in your person.

6. Set Boundaries

Establish healthy boundaries for yourself to protect your emotional well-being. Setting boundaries is a crucial step in moving on from the past and opening yourself up to new possibilities. It allows you to focus on your healing process without interference, minimizing distractions that may hinder your emotional recovery. Clear boundaries prevent misunderstandings and limit the likelihood of mixed signals. It also allows you to detach from the relationship.

7. Forgive

Make sure to forgive yourself and your ex-partner. No, you will not always get the apology you deserve because many people don’t know how to apologize when they’re wrong. But holding onto resentment can hinder your healing process. Forgiveness releases you from the emotional burden of resentment, anger, and any negative feelings that may be holding you back. It helps prevent the feeling of bitterness which may impact your future relationships. Healing helps you break emotional ties with the person, allowing you to move forward without being hindered by unresolved emotions.

8. Focus on Your Personal Growth

Use this period as an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. Find a routine or hobby that will promote your well-being and help you become the person you’ve always wanted to be outside of a relationship. Work on your relationship with God, friends, family, etc. What are the things you weren’t able to focus on while in the relationship that you now have time for? Do the things you’ve always wanted to do that you had to put on hold due to the relationship. Read books, listen to podcasts, go to therapy, journal, meditate, and take some courses. The options are endless when it comes to personal growth.

9. Be Patient

Healing takes time, so be patient and kind to yourself throughout the process. Healing looks different for everyone, but it is linear. Having patience in the healing process cultivates self-compassion–allowing you to be kinder and more forgiving toward yourself along the way. You’ll learn to love and respect yourself more while you put all the attention on yourself. Anything worth having doesn’t come easy. When you’re willing to be patient for the something the results are always worth the process. No, you won’t get over your ex right away. No, you won’t stop thinking about them right away. No, getting under someone else will not make the self-love grow quicker. All of these things take time.

Remember, all these key elements are what it takes to practice and maintain your self-worth, self-determination, and self-love.