We all know what a rebound relationship is. If not from personal experience, then knowing someone who’s gone through one. While breaking up can be difficult, the last thing you want to do is get involved with somebody who is not worth your time. Rebound relationships come naturally to us, with emphasis on ideas like “getting back in the swing of things,” a rebound relationship seems like an easy, natural, way to get over the heartache of a failed relationship. But blindly attaching yourself to the wrong person can only cause more problems. If you’re looking for some healthy ways to get over your ex, consider these ideas. Stay busy. All too often, people seek out a rebound relationship because their habit is disrupted. That is to say, you get used to having someone to take to dinner, go to the movies, or curl up to in bed at night. It’s natural to miss these things, so we often try to find somebody to make the change in our lifestyle less obvious. Try instead to find a friend who you can spend time with socially, not romantically, to help distract you from your loss. Don’t lower your standards. The easiest way to avoid the wrong person is to maintain your standards. Heck, if you just got out of a relationship, raise the bar even higher. If you are thinking about getting involved with somebody who is too mean, or too surly, or too irresponsible, don’t. People don’t change, at least not for anybody but themselves. The idea of a fixer-upper date is a myth. Picture comfort food. Not literally food, no, but the emotional equivalent. It is too simple to skip the long process of finding somebody who really fits you and just settling for somebody convenient and comfortable. This may be a friend or coworker or even ex, whoever they are, you probably feel like you know them already. If you’ve never had two thoughts about a person before, and suddenly you want to climb in their bed, you need to put on the brakes. Do something for yourself. Don’t waste your time with a series of dead-end dates. Take the time to get involved in something you always wanted to do, like volunteering at a homeless shelter or painting. This can be a great way to make new friends, and I do mean friends, as well as provide you with the real feeling of self satisfaction. Take your time. Let’s be honest: if you just got out of a serious relationship, you’re going to be bummed. That’s okay. Try and take it easy for a few weeks, don’t start any big projects, or over-commit yourself. Instead, spend a few weeks taking it easy and pampering yourself, you deserve it. Not all rebound relationships are destined for disaster. You might have a lot of fun. Just remember, it’s important to give yourself a little time after a serious relationship. Whatever you do, don’t settle for less. The end of a relationship might be inevitable, but ugly rebounds are easily prevented. |