How to Be an Independent Ex

So you broke up. Whether you ended it or he ended it, get out gracefully and don’t linger. There are better ways to cope than leaving him a series of frantic voicemails questioning if you or he “made the right decision.”

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Cut off all communication with him. No matter who broke it off, cut all ties even if you both think you might want to “try to be friends.” Take his number out of your phone, and ignore all calls or texts from him. Block him (or at least ignore any communication from him) on Facebook, MySpace, or any other such website where he can look at your information.
2. Get rid of all his stuff. Clothes, pictures, gifts--remove all of it from your daily life. Throw out what you see fit, save everything else in a box that you store in an attic or basement for viewing when you’re ready.
3. Busy yourself. Make plans. Hang out with family and friends. Get involved with your work. Join a club or group. Don’t just sit at home, watching "The Notebook" and sobbing into a box of tissues. The busier you are, the more you’ll forget about him and the situation, and the more new people you’ll meet.
4. Love yourself. Don’t feel sorry for yourself now that you are single. Think of all the new dates you can go on and all of the stress that’s out of your life now that you only have to answer to yourself. When you stop trying your hardest is often when the best new relationships tend to surface.