1. Get it out 

Take a breath. Seriously. If you need to write it down and burn the page after, do it. Call your best friend and discuss it. You will feel every feeling, and that’s normal. You will be angry, sad and happy. No matter how long you were with your partner, you share memories with that person, and there will be feelings that come with that. Those emotions have to be processed, and they will need to be talked about. Bottling your emotions will only lead to an eruption at some point, and that can put you on a path you don’t need to be on. 

2. Find hobbies
   

The most crucial part of the breakup process is finding a way to delegate your new availability. The time you may have spent on your partner is now fair game, so what do you do with it? Hobbies! Finding a hobby or multiple is a good way to feed your emotional, mental and creative needs. They can feed physical needs, and exercise is a good outlet for relieving feelings. Hobbies offer an escape from the thoughts you may be brewing over. While it’s dire to process those thoughts and feelings, sitting with them continually is also not healthy. 

3. Surround yourself with positivity
   

Breakups can feel like your life has turned upside down. You lost a companion, which is challenging to navigate. While some may consider it no big deal most of the time, those deep, intrusive thoughts at 3 a.m. say otherwise. Surround yourself with positivity. Positivity can be implemented through hanging out with friends, having a daily affirmation and focusing on the joyful things in your life. The world keeps spinning, and you will come out of it stronger. Lean on those closest to you. That’s what they’re for. By keeping a positive headspace, you’re putting yourself in a healthy state of being. 

4. Stay away from any dating app
   

I wish this didn’t have to be said, but it needs to be. You may think going to a new person is the best choice, but it will only hurt you. It’s gonna get messy, and you will most likely find yourself trying to replicate something you used to have. It not only hurts you, but it could also potentially hurt the other person. Depending on the relationship’s longevity and the breakup components, it will take some time to get over someone fully -– don’t try to recreate something. You cannot drown yourself in validation from another person, and you must find that within yourself. 

5. Realize that being single is OK
   

Being a partner is not your only characteristic. Taking the time to be with yourself is the hardest part of a breakup. Find comfort in yourself, and find comfort in being alone. What makes you special is not the person you’re dating; it’s who you are on the inside. This is a hard pill to swallow, especially when you have been in a longer relationship. The breakup happened for a reason, and the hard truth is accepting it. The world keeps moving forward, and you also have to. Taking moments to be with yourself will help you grow, and that’s an essential step in the breakup.