How to Stop Thinking About Someone – 10 Tips for Moving On
Still hung up on someone? We get it. It’s hard to let go sometimes! Whether it’s a crush, missed connection, or the one that got away, dwelling on it can really take a toll. While it’s still important to allow yourself time to work out your emotions, there comes a point when it’s time to move on.
If you need to know how to stop thinking about someone, here are 10 tips for moving on to help:
1. Get to Know Yourself Better
Sometimes, it’s easy to lose your sense of self in a relationship in an attempt to appease your partner. If you’re going through a breakup, try a little self-reflection. Think about who you were before the relationship and practice some self-care! Take some time to evaluate what you learned from your relationship, what you want moving forward, and what your priorities are. After all, you have to love yourself before you can truly love someone else.
2. Journal
A great way to channel your inner feelings and get in touch with your emotions is to put pen to paper. It’s an effective way to work through things that are clouding your mind—almost like a release. Taking just a few minutes each day to jot down your thoughts (things bothering you, what you want to work on, goals, etc.) can help keep you grounded and help you move on from whatever is holding you back.
3. Reclaim a Hobby or Talent
Maybe you stopped pursuing a hobby because of a relationship, or just never got around to it—either way, now is the time to pick it up! A new hobby will keep you busy, introduce you to new people, and keep that certain someone off your mind.
4. Get Involved in the Community/Volunteer
There’s a common theme here: keep yourself busy! Volunteer at a school, work at a local soup kitchen, or help out at your local animal shelter—whatever you have a passion for. Getting involved is a great way to stay busy while making positive contributions to your community. It’s a win-win!
5. Hang Out With Your Friends
Breakups are tough, and it’s hard not to feel lonely when you’re going through one. While some alone time is needed, it’s important to re-establish your social life. Call up your friends! Of course, it can be tricky if you and your ex share a friend group, but don’t let that stop you. Support from friends is a key part of moving on.
6. Unfollow Them on Social Media
It’s not petty, it’s necessary! Constantly seeing your ex on social media makes it nearly impossible to get over them. Do yourself a favor and save your sanity! You can always go back and follow them again if you feel ready, but until them, constant tabs on their life will only make it harder to move on.
7. Avoid Places They Frequent
Awkward run-ins with your ex in public are not fun. Though it’s not possible to completely avoid them, try to stay away from places you know they frequent. If they go to a particular coffee shop, try a new one. Find a fun new bar on the other side of town. Of course, don’t totally change your life—just take simple sets to lower the chances of running into each other.
8. Change Routine
You and your ex probably had a routine of things you did together, right? Time to switch it up! You’re flying solo now, and creating a new routine for yourself is a huge step in moving forward. Explore new places, meet new people, and maybe even try some casual dating. Doing this can help delineate a new chapter from an old chapter and help you get your ex off your mind!
9. Avoid the Urge to Reach Out (Especially When Intoxicated!)
This is easier said than done, of course! Trust the reasons you broke up with your ex in the first place and avoid reaching out at all costs. It’s so tempting to send a text when you’re feeling sad, lonely, or nostalgic, especially if you’ve been drinking. The only thing that comes out of a drunken phone call is regret the next day! Reaching out to each other can create messy situations and interfere with feelings of closure about the relationship.
10. Talk to Someone
Sometimes it’s just not possible to get over an ex without a little bit of help from an expert. Even if a relationship wasn’t particularly traumatic, it can still be difficult to move on given past relationships, attachment issues, and your mental health. If you feel like you need a little extra help moving on, consider Relish, a relationship coaching app. While relationship coaching is mostly for people that are in relationships, the experts can also help you make moves to get over a past relationship. The coaches at Relish are experts in their field who can help you make a game plan to get over your ex and get them off of your mind.