Breakups are like a really bad cold—you know it’s going to pass, but while you’re in the thick of it, it feels just awful. It’s that heart – wrenching moment when you realize that the person you shared so much with, the one you thought might be “the one,” is no longer going to be a part of your daily life.​

The first few days after a breakup are usually the roughest. I remember when my friend Sarah went through a breakup. She was a mess. She couldn’t stop crying. Every song on the radio seemed to be about love and heartbreak, making it even harder for her. She would lie in bed all day, replaying every moment of their relationship in her head. The photos they took together, the inside jokes they shared—everything was a painful reminder of what she had lost.​

One of the hardest things about a breakup is dealing with the sudden change in routine. When you’re in a relationship, you get used to doing things together. You might have breakfast together every morning, or watch a movie every Friday night. But after a breakup, all of those routines are gone. You’re left with a lot of free time, and it can feel really empty. My friend Jake found this out the hard way. He and his girlfriend used to go for a run every weekend. After the breakup, he didn’t know what to do with himself on Saturday mornings. He would just lie in bed, feeling sorry for himself.​

Then there’s the issue of social media. In today’s digital age, it’s almost impossible to avoid your ex. You see their posts, their new photos, and it’s like a stab in the heart. It’s even worse when you see them with someone new. My cousin Emily was scrolling through Instagram one day and saw her ex with a new girl. She was devastated. She couldn’t believe that he had moved on so quickly.​

But slowly, people start to heal. Sarah decided to focus on herself. She joined a yoga class and made some new friends. Jake started running alone, and he actually found that he enjoyed it more than running with his ex. Emily deleted her ex from all social media platforms and started to focus on her hobbies.​

As time passes, the pain starts to fade. The memories that once made you cry now bring a small smile to your face. You start to realize that there’s life after a breakup, and that you’re stronger than you thought.