The Five Universal Break-Up Rules

You know what? There are some standard rules we should all follow when it comes to breaking up with an ex. We all think each situation is special and unique and calls for something different – but it doesn’t. Each situation is unique, but they all call for basically the same thing. So, before you jump on the online personals and think you’re good and ready to move on with a new relationship, make sure you’ve done these five key things:

1. Unfriend Your Ex on Facebook

No. don’t just unfriend – BLOCK. If you simply unfriend, you still have access if they have an open profile, and he or she might still randomly pop up in a mutual acquaintance’s photo with their arm draped around some new lover. That stings. So fucking block ASAP.

2. A Period of No Contact

No, you can not call each other once a week and talk about neutral subjects and get over each other. You need to grieve the loss of you two together, get it? Trust me, there needs to be a period of no contact for you to fully realize what this means.

3. No Sex

No contact also means no sex. Nope, there are no special rules which means sex is allowed. Sorry.

4. Re-dating

Start taking the steps to start dating again, whether it’s online dating or blind dating or whatever. Even if you aren’t ready to actually do it, knowing you are now open to it will help you make a clean break.

5. Stop Talking About Your ex

It’s fine to grieve and vent with a close friend about him or her, but you shouldn’t constantly be recalling stories and good times you had with your past love. You need to get that shit off your brain.