We all know how hard it can be to get over an ex, but it can be even worse if you have to see them every day after the split. Whether you work together, go to school together or even just happen to be close family friends, it can be hard to ignore the fact your ex is always there. If you’re not sure how to get over your former prince charming, here’s a few things you can do to get them out of mind even if they’re not necessarily out of sight.
Keep yourself busy
One of the best ways to get over any ex is to distract yourself by doing things you love to do. Whether it’s getting more involved in school organizations or learning a new hobby, investing your time into other interests is not only an effective distraction, but it can also be extremely productive. When you delve into something you really love, you’ll find that it no longer becomes a distraction, but a newfound happiness. By putting your happiness into an activity rather than a person, you’ll be able to ensure you’re in control of your emotions.
Shaylee Butler, a senior at the University of Arkansas, couldn’t agree more. “I’ve found that working out was a great outlet for me,” she shares. “Focusing my attention on myself rather than other people not only helped me mentally, but also physically.” Investing your time into things that can better you as a person is a healthy way to get your mind of the pain that inevitably comes with any breakup.
Keep it short and simple
Whether you ended on bad terms or good terms, you always want to keep the communication to a minimum. It’s always good to stay polite and have a little small talk here and there, but for your own sake, it’s better to keep it at just that. You never want to show your anger or resentment by ignoring them or simply being rude to them. It’s important to be the mature one and accept that things simply didn’t work out. On the other hand, you don’t want to keep your conversations deep and lengthy because it could lead to lingering feelings. After any breakup, it’s nearly impossible to become best friends right after. You always want to make sure to wait until the feelings are gone to become friends.
Doan Nguyen, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina, says that keeping it short and simple is the way to go. “I’ve found that just a simple greeting is the best way to get over them,” she says. “By sticking to simple greetings and surface level small talk, we can still be civil without leading on any lingering feelings.” We agree that continuing conversations as if you are still dating is dangerous territory!
Don’t look for them
We all know the feeling of looking for your crush in a crowded room. However, when it comes to looking for a ex in a crowded room, all it does it make things worse. Most of the time you’ll just find yourself overthinking about every single move that they make. The less you see them, the easier it’ll be to get your mind off of them. In situations where they’re always in the same place as you, it’s a good idea just to keep your eyes from straying in their direction.
Elyza Bailey, a junior at the University of Texas at Austin, says that this can be a big help. “I’ve realized that if I’m constantly worrying about what they’re doing, I’ll never get over it,” she says. “Even when you’re in the same place as your ex every day, you don’t always have to see them.” Now that’s what we call strength.
Related Article: 4 Signs You’re in Lust Not in Love
Surround yourself with people who care about you
Whenever you’re going through a rough patch, the people you surround yourself with is really important. Especially when you’re faced with seeing an ex every single day, the best way to get over them is to surround yourself with people who love and care about you. Whether it be friends or family, being around people who make you happy is a great way to keep your mind off of a former relationship.
Haley Acord, a senior at the University of Texas at Arlington, agrees this is super important. “It’s amazing how much just having your friends around you to laugh with can help in situations like these,” she explains. “Even when I was in the same room as my ex, I was so busy laughing with my friends that I didn’t even notice him there.” Well, that’s certainly the goal!
Focus on yourself
When it comes down to it, the only way to really get over your ex in a healthy way is to take the time to focus on yourself. With all the time you spent in a relationship, we know how hard it can be to be on your own. However, the best part about a break up is the fact that you’ll come out of it so much stronger. It’s important to remember you’ll never truly be alone. You’ll always have friends and family to lean on while you learn to grow more and more as an independent person.