How to be alone again

When we’re in a relationship, a lot of our time is spent with other people. We spend time with our partners, with our friends and family – and with their friends and family. So when a relationship comes to an end, for whatever reason, we naturally feel very alone.

Of course, we can turn to our friends and family for support during this time, but what about when they’re not available? As difficult as it may feel, this is the perfect time to remind yourself of who you truly are.

Sometimes we feel as if the person we were in a relationship with formed part of our identity, we may even feel like we’ve lost our identity to some degree.

Taking time to be alone after a relationship allows you to reconnect with yourself and set some new intentions.

How do you want your life to be? What do you really want? What makes you happy? And when you’re ready, who would make an ideal future partner?

Below we share some tips for doing just this:

Look after your health

Make your health your priority. Use any extra time you’ve gained to start a new active hobby. Join a gym or fitness class. Learn what foods nourish your body and soul.

Be kind to yourself

Don’t beat yourself up at this time. Allow yourself to have bad days when all you want to do is cry and watch Grey’s Anatomy. Be a friend to yourself and treat yourself to some me-time.

Challenge yourself

Staying in your comfort zone may seem like the easy option after a break-up, but you’ll be surprised at how energising it is to try something new. Challenge yourself to start a new hobby. Go on that holiday you always promised yourself. Go for that promotion. Challenging yourself and succeeding will do wonders for your confidence.

Get some distance

Sometimes the best way to embrace being single again is to get away for a bit. This could be as exotic as going travelling alone, or as simple as disconnecting from social media for a while. Stepping back from the world for a bit gives you the space to think and be while you reconnect with yourself. Then, when you’re up to it, you can return stronger than ever.

Are you struggling to find direction? Working with a professional coach can give you structure, achievable goals and something to work towards. Use our search tool to find a coach in your area.