How To Survive A Break Up {Part 5}

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. "

-Alexander Graham Bell

This will be my last post (for now) on how to survive a break up. Throughout 5 different posts I've provided 20 different things you can do to keep yourself healthy when you're going through a break up or loss in your life. I hope you find them helpful, or will pass them along to others who are going through this difficult time as well.

Alright. Let's get on with the last 4 things you can do to survive a breakup in a healthy manner:

• Evaluate your relationship and yourself in that relationship. What went well in the relationship, and what would you like to see done differently in your next relationship? Maybe you need to work on communicating your needs clearly, or maybe you need to increase your self-esteem. Use this time that you aren’t in a relationship to become as healthy as you can be so that you go into your next relationship as a healthy individual. 
• Change your schedule or your daily routes to avoid your ex or places that were important in your relationship. If you know your ex goes to the same coffee shop that you do at 8 am every morning, then avoid that time (or even that shop) so you don't run into him. If a park is a constant reminder of your relationship, it is ok to change your route for a few weeks so you don't add more pain into your life. 
• Remind yourself of the positives in your future. It's easy to feel like your life is over and your future is dull because of the breakup. Remind yourself of the positives that will come in the future (graduating from college, dreams of your ideal job, a running race, etc...). Remind yourself that life isn't over because of the break up, and you will be happy once again. 
• Find a therapist or pastor to talk to. If you feel like some self-evaluation might be helpful, or if you are feeling depressed or suicidal, it would be helpful to contact a therapist or pastor to be a listening ear or provide some guidance. Therapy isn't just for "crazy" or "messed up" people. It can be beneficial for all people, regardless of how severe your problem is. Feeling sad from a break up is a great reason to see a counselor for a few sessions! 

Well, there you go! I want to again remind you that it is normal to be upset, angry, hurt, confused, _____ (fill in the blank) for weeks to months after, so give yourself the freedom to heal over time. You can't always control what's going on around you, but you can control how you react to it. You do have power, even when the situation seems powerless. 

Here are the other posts in this series in case you missed them!

How To Help A Friend Through A Breakup {Part 1}
How to Help A Friend Through A Breakup {Part 2}
How To Help A Friend Through A Breakup {Part 3}
How To Survive A Breakup {Part 1}
How To Survive A Breakup {Part 2}
How To Survive A Breakup {Part 3}
How To Survive A Breakup {Part 4}

Now it's your turn!

Looking back at all 20 steps for surviving a breakup, which seem the most "do-able" or helpful to you? What's something that has been more detrimental then helpful that you've done after a breakup?