Dealing With Loneliness After a Breakup? 3 Coping Tips

1. Keep Busy

This first tip may sound like a somewhat frivolous one, but it isn’t. While you don’t want to stuff or deny what you’re feeling, wallowing in it isn’t healthy, either. Finding ways to keep busy offers both a needed distraction as well as a productive use of your time when you’re dealing with loneliness after a breakup.

Exercise

Many people find enormous relief through exercise when going through a stressful period in their life. Depending upon your health and fitness level, find a physical activity that you enjoy and challenges you.

If you push yourself even a little when you exercise, you’ll have to focus on what you’re doing. You won’t be able to dwell as much on your loneliness. The feel-good endorphins released by exercise will boost your mood. You’ll sleep better as well and be less likely to give in to sugar cravings.

Tackle Old Projects

Tearing into a long-neglected project also offers excellent use of your time and a sense of satisfaction. This outcome is real whether you’re cleaning out your closet or garage, organizing files and photos on your computer, or something else.

Find Enjoyable Entertainment

Again, this may sound like a silly tip, but there’s a reason behind it. Being drawn into a well-produced television series or movie allows us to move beyond our own lives for a short time. We can enter other worlds and perhaps be inspired by the beauty and thought put into the show. We might learn something new.

Comedies are particularly helpful during a time of loneliness, but it doesn’t have to be only those. Watch genres your partner didn’t like. Find critics’ top choices for the last decade (or more) and make it your goal to watch all of them.

2. Reach Out to Others

When we’re lonely and feeling sad, reaching out to others doesn’t always come naturally. It’s an uncomfortable paradox, of course: what can help us the most is often the hardest thing to do. Living through this loneliness during the pandemic doesn’t help.

But we are made for connection, and it has been shown time and again to help humans get through hard times. You can start small. Message a friend; join an online group about a topic you love, and hop into the conversations. If you are comfortable phoning friends or family to talk about your loneliness, even better.

3. Nurture Yourself

Take the extra time you have to yourself to nurture yourself. What makes you feel better? What helps you relax? Be gentle with yourself, even in your loneliness. Don’t give in to negative thoughts about yourself, your desirability, or your future.

When you’re faced with loneliness after a breakup, learn to counter those harmful thoughts with positive ones. Take the time for simple indulgences that you might not have in the past: long baths listening to relaxing music, trying a new recipe, tucking into a good book.

—

Living with loneliness after a breakup is painful — but it doesn’t have to define you or your life. If you find yourself struggling after a relationship ends, consider reaching out for help. A therapist can help you evaluate your situation and guide you toward personal growth and recovery.

Please call our office to learn more or visit our page about Dealing With a Relationship Breakup to start your healing journey.