Breakups are the worst. When a romantic relationship comes to an end, it’s a huge change & a huge loss to both people involved. It can be a really overwhelming period for you. You might feel like a huge part of yourself is gone, and now you’ve got to start fresh and figure things out all on your own.

It’s even harder if the breakup happens while you’re still dealing with a long-distance situation. You might feel like you let yourself down because you couldn’t make it work the way you hoped. You may even feel like you’ve failed others because you weren’t successful in beating the distance the way that you imagined you’d be.

I can’t promise that you’ll bounce back from your long-time love overnight or that the pain will just magically disappear by following a simple guide. No, I won’t promise that. But I can share some tips to help get you out of the rut and better deal with all of the emotions you’re going through. It’s tough, but there are some healthy ways to cope and move forward. Here are 14 ways to help you heal after a long-distance breakup:


1. Acknowledge Your Emotions

Breakups hurt. It’s totally normal to feel a mix of sadness, anger, confusion, or even a bit of relief. Just let yourself feel whatever you’re feeling without beating yourself up about it. Trying to ignore those feelings or rush through the grieving process will just make things worse. Talking it out with a friend or journaling can really help you sort through what’s going on in your heart and your head.


2. Give Yourself Space – From Your Ex

After a breakup, it’s tempting to reach out to your ex for comfort, especially during moments of weakness. Resist this urge. Taking a step back and giving yourself time and space to heal is essential. Avoid excessive texting, stalking their social media, or finding excuses to reconnect—it only makes moving on harder.

Related: Mind Over Miles: He broke up with me! Now he wants me back?


3. Focus on Self-Care

Breakups can really mess with your head and body. So, it’s super important to take care of yourself. Try to stick to a healthy routine -eat good food, get some exercise, and make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep. Even little things, like treating yourself to a nice bath or vibing out to your favorite tunes can make a big difference.

Related: 15 Things To Do For Yourself After A Long Distance Breakup


4. Don’t Isolate Yourself

Long-distance relationships can be a real drain on your time and energy. So why not take this chance to catch up with friends and family you might have neglected? You’re going to need a support group, people who can comfort you and keep you motivated when things get too tough or everything feels like too much to handle on your own.

It might sound cliché but having someone to text, call, or chat with instead of your ex is super important. They’ll be the ones reminding you, “you can get through this” and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need to hear.

Plus, your friends and family can really help keep you occupied. It’s so easy to slip into sadness and just zone out, get depressed, and withdraw into yourself. Those close to you can be a great distraction, a great alternative to thinking about your past relationship all the time. Instead of dwelling too much on painful memories, you’ll be out with friends, doing things with family -all things that will help you to heal, keep busy and focus on more positive things.


5. Find Healthy Distractions

Staying busy is a great way to help you move on. Why not try a new hobby, get lost in a good book, or finally start that creative project you’ve been meaning to tackle? Keeping your days filled with meaningful activities can really help take your mind off the breakup and give you something to focus on.


6. Rely on Your Support System

Lean on the people who care about you. Talk to close friends, family, or even a therapist about what you’re going through. Sharing your feelings with others can be incredibly cathartic, and their support will remind you that you’re loved and valued.


7. Avoid Rebounding

It might be super tempting to dive into another relationship just to fill that void your ex left, but honestly, rebound relationships can end up causing more trouble than they’re worth. It’s way better to take some time for yourself to heal, think things through, and figure out who you are before jumping back into dating.

Related: 21 Moments When Your Long Distance Relationship Just Isnt Worth It Anymore


8. Set Personal Goals

Take this time to really focus on you. Set goals that excite and challenge you, whether it’s about your job, school, getting fit, or just personal growth. Working toward something tangible will help you feel more confident and shift your attention from what’s behind you to what’s ahead.


9. Remove Reminders of Your Ex

Holding onto reminders of your ex, like photos or old texts, can really make it tough to move on. You might want to stash those things away or even delete them completely. Creating a space free from constant reminders will help you let go and start fresh!


10. Reflect, But Don’t Dwell

It’s totally normal to think about what went wrong and how you could’ve handled things differently. Looking back can actually be a good way to heal, but try not to get stuck in a loop of beating yourself up or overthinking everything. Instead, focus on the lessons you’ve learned and how they can help you grow in your future relationships.


11. Don’t Feel Guilty

Don’t beat yourself up for ending a long-distance relationship. At the end of the day, relationships are about being happy and compatible with someone who clicks with you. Sometimes, that just doesn’t happen, and it can happen in any kind of relationship—whether you’re close by or miles apart

As a community we often talk about bridging the gap and making it work, but honestly, you don’t owe anyone anything. Not even an explanation for why things didn’t work out. Don’t pile on guilt to your already long list of emotions to deal with. You haven’t let anyone down, not even yourself. You made the choice that was best for you, and that’s what matters!

Related: It Happened To Me: I Broke Off My 2 Year LDR


12. It’s Normal To Feel Shock

You had a special bond with someone and now it’s just… gone. Yeah, that’s gonna sting. But here’s the thing: not everyone experiences the pain and shock that comes from breaking up at the same time though. For some folks, it hits them later, while others feel it all at once right when it happens. Either way, it’s totally normal to go through this, no matter how intense it feels.

You might find yourself reaching for your phone to text them or call about something you’d usually share, and then it hits you like a ton of bricks that they’re not there anymore. Being long distance didn’t mean that you weren’t close; in fact, you were probably closer than a lot of couples who see each other every day. You’re dealing with a breakup of both mind and heart, not just body. And honestly, that can be the toughest part.


13. Don’t Mask Your Feelings

It’s possible you won’t be sad all of the time, but you definitely don’t need to be happy all the time either. Like most painful things in life, the emotions that follow will come in waves. You’ll have moments of complete clarity where you’re perfectly okay with the decision you made and you know that it was the best choice for you. But then there will be those moments when you might feel super sad or even a bit regretful. And that’s totally normal!

The worst possible thing you can do is try to bottle up those feelings or shove them down. The best way to deal with it all is to let it out. Cry a little, spend a few hours in bed, pull that tissue box close. You’re going to feel sad. There’s nothing weak or strange or wrong about it. Letting those emotions out will prove to be far more therapeutic than holding them in. And once you’ve gotten it all out you’ll be better off for having done so.


14. Believe It Will Be Okay

Finally, it’s important to remind yourself that this isn’t the end of the world. Sure, it might feel like it right now, and it’s completely normal to think you’ll never love again. But let’s be real -statistically speaking, it’s far more unrealistic to believe that you won’t.

You might get caught up in those tricky thoughts that tell you nobody will ever fit you as well as your ex did or that you’ll be stuck in this emotional rut forever. But trust me, that’s just your mind playing tricks on you. There are plenty of amazing people out there waiting to cross your path, and one day, you’ll look back and realize that this breakup was just a stepping stone to something even better.

Life goes on, and it always has a funny way of surprising us. Even when it feels like the world is crashing down around you, remember that you’ll be okay in the end -no matter how or why the relationship ended. Embrace the changes, give yourself time to heal, and don’t rush the process.

Each day is a new opportunity to discover more about yourself and what you truly want in a partner. So, take a deep breath, let go of those lingering doubts, and believe that brighter days are ahead. Just by believing that, you’re already one step closer to recovering from your long-distance breakup and opening your heart to new possibilities!


Coping with a long-distance breakup is never easy, but it’s an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Be patient with yourself, take things one day at a time, and lean on the people who care about you. Eventually, you’ll find yourself stronger, happier, and ready for whatever comes next.

Have you been through a long-distance breakup? What helped you heal? Share your thoughts in the comments below!