How to move on from an ex: Your chest feels tight. You can’t stop checking your phone. Everything reminds you of them.
Moving on from an ex feels impossible right now. I know. But here’s the truth: you will get through this. Thousands of people have been exactly where you are, and they made it to the other side.
Today, Mama will show you how to heal your heart and rebuild your life. No fluff. Just real strategies that actually work.
Let’s start your journey together toward feeling whole again.
Why Moving On Feels So Hard
Breakups aren’t just painful. They mess with your brain chemistry.
When you’re in love, your brain releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin. These chemicals create actual addiction-like patterns.
So when the relationship ends, you’re not just losing a person. You’re going through withdrawal.
Your brain is literally craving something it can’t have anymore. That’s why you feel so desperate to text them at 2 AM.
Understanding this helps you be kinder to yourself. You’re not weak or pathetic. You’re human.
Here are the 10 Ways to Move On from an Ex
Trust me, after reading these 10 ways to move on from an ex, you will feel light and happy.
1. Cut Off All Contact (Yes, Really)
This is the hardest step. It’s also the most important one.
No texts. No calls. No “accidentally” running into them. No checking their social media.
None of it.
I know you want to stay friends. I know you think you can handle seeing their posts. But trust me on this.
Every time you see them or talk to them, you’re reopening the wound. You’re starting the healing process all over again.
What No Contact Actually Looks Like
Delete their number from your phone. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, at least change their name to “Don’t Text This Person.”
Block them on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and every other platform. Unfollow their friends too if you have to.
If you work together or share kids, keep it strictly professional. Talk only about what you absolutely need to discuss.
No friendly chats. No catching up. Business only.
How Long Should You Go No Contact?
Most experts recommend at least 30 days. Some situations need 60 or 90 days.
The goal isn’t to punish them. It’s to give yourself space to heal without constant reminders.
Think of it like recovering from surgery. You wouldn’t run a marathon the day after, right?
2. Feel Your Feelings (Don’t Push Them Away)
Here’s what most people get wrong: they try to avoid the pain.
They stay busy every second. They drink too much. They jump into a new relationship immediately.
All of that just delays the healing.
Let Yourself Grieve
Cry when you need to cry. Scream into a pillow if that helps. Write angry letters you’ll never send.
Your emotions need to come out. If you bottle them up, they’ll explode later in worse ways.
Set aside time each day to just feel everything. Maybe 20 minutes where you let yourself be completely sad.
Then, when the time is up, you get up and do something else.
The Emotions You Might Feel
Sadness. Anger. Regret. Relief. Jealousy. All of the above.
Sometimes you’ll feel fine for days. Then something small will hit you and you’ll break down.
That’s totally normal. Healing isn’t a straight line.
3. Get Rid of Their Stuff
That hoodie they left at your place? Gone. The photos on your wall? Take them down.
Every reminder of them in your space keeps you stuck in the past.
What to Do With Their Things
If they left stuff at your place, pack it up and return it. Or have a friend do it if seeing them will hurt too much.
Don’t keep things “just in case” you get back together. That’s hope keeping you hostage.
Donate their gifts to charity. Throw away love letters. Delete saved text messages.
Yes, even the sweet ones.
Redecorate Your Space
Move your furniture around. Buy new sheets. Change your wallpaper on your phone.
Create a space that feels like yours, not “ours.”
This sends a powerful message to your brain: we’re starting fresh.
4. Stop Stalking Their Social Media
This one’s brutal but necessary.
Every time you check their Instagram, you’re torturing yourself. And for what?
Why Social Media Stalking Hurts You
You see them looking happy and think they’ve moved on completely. Meanwhile you’re still crying into your pillow.
But here’s the truth: people only post their highlight reel. They’re not posting about crying themselves to sleep.
You see them with someone new and spiral into jealousy and self-doubt.
But you don’t know their story. Maybe it’s a rebound. Maybe they’re as miserable as you are.
How to Actually Stop
Use app blockers if you have to. Give your best friend your passwords and tell them to change them.
Delete the apps from your phone entirely for a month.
When you get the urge to check on them, call a friend instead. Or do 20 pushups. Or take a cold shower.
Do anything except look at their profile.
5. Lean On Your Support System
You don’t have to go through this alone.
Your friends and family love you. Let them help.
How to Ask for Support
Be honest about what you need. Some days you’ll want distraction. Other days you’ll need to vent.
Tell your people: “I need help getting through this breakup. Can I call you when I’m struggling?”
Most people will say yes. They want to help. They just don’t know how unless you tell them.
Join a Support Group
Look for breakup support groups online or in your area. Talking to people who get it can be incredibly healing.
There’s something powerful about hearing “I’ve been there too” from someone who really has.
6. Reclaim Your Identity
Who were you before this relationship?
Maybe you’ve spent so long being part of “us” that you forgot what “me” feels like.
Reconnect With Old Hobbies
What did you love doing before they came along? Start doing that again.
Did you stop seeing certain friends because your ex didn’t like them? Call those friends.
Take that trip you always wanted to take. Try that hobby you put off. Be selfish with your time and energy.
Discover New Parts of Yourself
Try something completely different. Take a cooking class. Learn a language. Join a hiking group.
You might discover parts of yourself you never knew existed.
The goal isn’t to become a completely different person. It’s to remember that you’re whole on your own.
7. Focus on Self-Improvement (But Not to Win Them Back)
Here’s an important distinction: improve yourself for YOU, not for them.
Don’t hit the gym thinking “they’ll regret leaving me when they see how hot I got.”
Do it because taking care of yourself feels good.
Physical Health Matters
Exercise releases endorphins that fight depression. Even a 20-minute walk helps.
Eat actual food, not just ice cream and takeout. Your body needs fuel to heal.
Get enough sleep. Your brain processes emotions during sleep. Skipping it makes everything worse.
Mental and Emotional Growth
Consider therapy. A good therapist can help you process the breakup and understand patterns in your relationships.
Read books about healthy relationships. Learn what you want for next time.
Work on the parts of yourself you know need improvement. Not for them. For your future relationships.
8. Create New Routines and Memories
Your old routines probably involved them. Sunday brunch. Friday movie nights. Morning coffee together.
Those empty spots hurt. So fill them with new things.
Build New Traditions
Start going to a different coffee shop. Find a new gym. Take a different route to work.
Create new rituals that have nothing to do with them.
Maybe it’s Tuesday night game night with friends. Or Saturday morning yoga. Or Wednesday evening painting class.
Make New Memories
Go places you’ve never been together. Do things you never did as a couple.
When you think of these activities, you won’t think of them. You’ll think of your new life.
This is your chance to write a new story.
9. Challenge Your Thoughts About Them
Your brain is lying to you right now.
It’s making them seem perfect. It’s forgetting all the bad parts.
Stop Idealizing Them
Write down the real reasons you broke up. Not just the surface stuff, but the deep issues.
List their actual flaws. The things that annoyed you. The ways they hurt you.
Keep this list on your phone. Read it whenever you start thinking “they were perfect.”
Rewrite Your Story
Your brain is telling you: “They were the one. I’ll never find anyone better.”
Change that story to: “They taught me lessons. Someone better suited for me is out there.”
Or: “I had good times with them. I’ll have good times again with someone new.”
The story you tell yourself shapes how you heal.
10. Know When You’re Ready to Date Again
There’s no perfect timeline. Some people need six months. Others need two years.
But here are signs you’re actually ready:
Green Flags for Dating Again
You can think about your ex without crying or feeling angry.
You’re genuinely excited about meeting someone new, not just trying to fill a void.
You’ve learned from the relationship and know what you want differently next time.
You’re happy being single. You want someone, but you don’t need someone.
Red Flags You’re Not Ready
You’re constantly comparing new people to your ex.
You’re dating just to make your ex jealous.
You’re still checking your ex’s social media obsessively.
You’re looking for someone to “fix” your broken heart.
Take your time. There’s no rush. Being single and healing is better than jumping into something before you’re ready.
What Not to Do While Moving On
Let’s talk about the mistakes that will keep you stuck.
Don’t Drunk Text Them
Nothing good ever comes from drunk texting an ex. Give your phone to a friend when you drink.
Or better yet, delete their number entirely.
Don’t Try to Make Them Jealous
Posting thirst traps or dating someone new just to hurt them? That’s not healing.
It’s trying to control their feelings. And it won’t make you feel better.
Don’t Rush the Process
Some people post about moving on after a week. Good for them.
You might need months. That’s okay too.
Healing isn’t a race. Go at your own pace.
Don’t Keep Checking If They’ve Moved On
Whether they’re dating someone new or still single doesn’t matter.
Your healing isn’t about them. It’s about you.
Understanding the Stages of Moving On
Moving on isn’t smooth. You’ll have good days and bad days.
The Denial Phase
At first, you might not believe it’s really over. You’ll think “they’ll come back.”
This phase is normal. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling this way.
The Anger Phase
Then the anger hits. You’re mad at them. Mad at yourself. Just mad.
Let yourself feel it. Write it out. Vent to friends. Just don’t act on it.
The Bargaining Phase
“If I just change this one thing, we can work it out.”
This is your brain trying to problem-solve. But you can’t force someone to want to be with you.
The Depression Phase
This is the hardest part. Everything feels heavy and pointless.
If this phase lasts more than a few weeks or feels unbearable, talk to a therapist.
The Acceptance Phase
Finally, you wake up one day and realize you’re okay. You still think about them, but it doesn’t hurt as much.
This is where healing really begins.
How Long Does It Take to Move On?
Everyone’s different. But here are some general guidelines.
Research suggests it takes about half the length of the relationship to fully move on.
Dated for two years? Expect about a year to heal completely.
But this isn’t a hard rule. A three-month intense relationship might hurt longer than a two-year casual one.
Factors That Affect Healing Time
How long you were together. Who initiated the breakup. Whether there was betrayal or abuse.
Your attachment style. Your support system. Whether you do the healing work.
Don’t compare your timeline to anyone else’s.
Signs You’re Actually Moving On
How do you know if you’re making progress? Watch for these signs.
You Stop Checking Their Social Media
Days go by and you realize you haven’t thought about looking at their profile.
You Feel Happy Again
Not every day. But more and more often, you catch yourself genuinely enjoying life.
You Can Talk About Them Without Getting Emotional
Someone mentions their name and you don’t feel that punch in the gut anymore.
You’re Excited About Your Future
You’re making plans that don’t involve them. And you actually feel good about it.
You’re Interested in Meeting New People
Not because you want to replace them. But because you’re genuinely open to connection again.
When to Get Professional Help
Sometimes you need more than friends and self-help articles.
Signs You Need Therapy
You can’t function in daily life weeks or months after the breakup.
You’re having thoughts of self-harm. You can’t sleep or eat. You’re using substances to cope.
The pain isn’t getting better with time. You keep falling into the same relationship patterns.
There’s no shame in getting help. Therapy isn’t for weak people. It’s for smart people who want to heal properly.
Moving Forward Into Your New Life
Here’s what I want you to remember.
This pain is temporary. It feels permanent, but it’s not.
You will laugh again. You will love again. You will feel like yourself again.
Maybe even a better version of yourself.
The Gift in the Pain
Every breakup teaches you something. About yourself. About what you need in a partner. About how you want to show up in relationships.
Don’t waste this lesson.
Your Next Chapter
Your life isn’t over. It’s just different now.
And different doesn’t mean worse. It means new opportunities. New experiences. New people to meet.
The person meant for you is still out there. But first, you need to heal and become the person who’s ready for them.
Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This
Moving on from an ex is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do.
But you’re stronger than you think. And you don’t have to do it perfectly.
Some days you’ll feel great. Other days you’ll fall apart. Both are part of the process.
Be patient with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Trust that you’re healing even when it doesn’t feel like it.
One day, sooner than you think, you’ll realize you made it through.
And that person who broke your heart? They’ll just be a chapter in your story, not the whole book.
You’re going to be okay. Better than okay, actually.
Keep going. You’ve got this.
