Say “yes” to every invitation you get. Being social and building your other relationships is a great way to forget about your ex. Stay active. Exercise and get out of the house every day. Not only is it good for your body, but it’s good for your mental health as well! Throw yourself at your schoolwork or job. Tackling something on your plate will put you back into control and make you feel like the best version of you.

While you may still want to get back with your ex, you may feel better if you go out on some casual dates with other people. Getting back out there may help you forget about your ex for now. [5] X Research source

This isn’t to say that you should ignore them if they hit you up. However, you should wait for them to reach out to you, not the other way around. It’s also not particularly healthy to keep checking in on them once you’ve broken up. It can be extremely tempting to hop on social media and see what they’re up to every other day, but it won’t make you feel better.

If the two of you broke up for a specific reason and you can fix whatever the reason was, do it. For example, if you broke up because they said you were unambitious, go back to school or hit the job market for a better gig.

If you haven’t blocked them online (which is fine if you can handle it), commenting or liking your social media posts is another big sign. You cannot know what’s in someone’s heart. While reaching out to check in on you is a huge sign that they’re into you, don’t assume it’s a closed deal. They may genuinely just want to know that you’re okay.

The trick here is to post about how well you’re doing without actually making it seem like you’re totally full of yourself. Don’t overdo it with the “life is going so great and I couldn’t be happier” stuff. Be humble and thoughtful, but flex a little bit!

In your process of self-discovery and growth, it’s possible you’ll meet someone who is even better for you than your ex![11] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source You know that whole “a watched pot never boils” thing? That is how this works. If you keep checking in on your ex, scoping out their social media, or ask your friends about them, it means you aren’t growing. If you aren’t growing, it means getting back together is unlikely to end well. Just do you for a while.

If the breakup was messy, the more space you put between the end of the relationship and a potential reconnection, the more likely it will be that both of you remember the good times. On top of that, the more time you give them to explore other possibilities, the more likely it will be that they realize the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. The more time that passes, the more space you create for the both of you to work on whatever issues caused you two to break up in the first place.

If you’re still unclear on why the two of you broke up, there’s nothing wrong with asking. So long as you approach the conversation from a place of respect, they should be willing to tell you why they broke up with you. [15] X Research source

While it definitely isn’t fun to hear that your ex is dating someone new, rest assured that it’s unlikely your ex and their new partner are going to stay together forever.

People can change their mind if you give it enough time but that can take months, or even years. For now, take them at the word and do your best to move on. [18] X Research source

This kind of content can be super painful to see. This is why it’s so important to not keep checking in on them online and focus on you. It might hurt a lot right now, but things will get better.