This post originally appeared March 17th, 2025, and has been updated to include holistic mind-body healing practices to help you heal after a breakup.
How to Heal From a Breakup and Move On
As certified relationship coaches, we know just how challenging healing after breakup can be. Whether you were broken up with, did the breaking up, or parted ways mutually, breakup recovery can be a frustrating and emotional process filled with ups and downs. At the Jessica Yaffa Coaching Institute, we are well-versed in supporting clients in moving through a breakup and getting back into the dating scene. We’re offering up our best mind-body healing practices for holistic healing after a breakup, and we’ve asked each of our coaches to share their favorite tips for healing and moving on after a breakup… don’t miss their responses at the end!
Holistic Mind-Body Healing Practices to Heal After a Breakup
- Journaling – Journaling can help us make sense of our thoughts and emotions, which is especially helpful during stressful times, including times of loss and significant change. Some people find it helpful to practice stream-of-counsciousness writing for healing, while others benefit from specific and guided prompts. For those who fall into the latter category, here are some prompts to start with:
- What did I learn from this relationship?
- What do I want to offer future partners?
- What do I want to take with me from this relationship?
- Where was I strong in the partnership?
- How have my expectations changed?
- What parts of this breakup hurt me the most and what can I do to heal?
- Make a bucket list of the things you can do now that you couldn’t do while in your relationship
- Mindful Movement – Extensive research has shown that just moving the body reaps all sorts of mental health benefits. You might not even feel like getting out of bed on your worst days after a breakup, but any intentional movement could be beneficial. Whether it’s a slow tai chi session in your living room, yoga at your favorite studio, or even taking a walk at a pace that feels good, just doing something has been shown to help.
- Grounding Exercises – The emotional intensity that comes with a breakup can leave us feeling dissociated and disconnected both with others and with ourselves. Simple grounding exercises, such as Box Breathing, Finding 5 Things, positive affirmations, or even simply connecting with nature for a bit, can recenter us and return us to equilibrium.
- Nourish the Body – Being mindful of physical needs can help you focus your energy on your emotional needs. Remember, some is better than none, so do what you can to stay hydrated, eat good food, get a little sun, exercise, and get sufficient sleep, even when you don’t feel like it.
Our Relationship Coaches’ Favorite After-Breakup Tips
While you’re doing the intenal work of healing post-breakup, it can be helpful to know you’re not the first to navigate the post-breakup journey. We don’t say this to minimize your experience; rather, we hope to remind you that, although it can feel you’re on an island of grief all by yourself, you are still connected to humanity as a greater whole, and the pain of the post-breakup journey is a human experience many can relate to.
In the spirit of reminding you you’re not alone, we’re metaphorically rallying around you with our support. We’ve surveyed our coaches to get their favorite post-breakup tips to support you right now. Here are the top 6 favorite tips:
1. Reflect on Your Relationship
You may feel tempted following a breakup to block the relationship from your mind and suppress feelings in an attempt to move forward. While challenging, reflecting on your relationship can be an effective way to find closure and begin the healing process. Think about both the good and the bad of your past relationship, and what you can bring forward as you reconnect with yourself.
2. Invest in Yourself
Practice self-compassion and self-care. Healing after breakup is a nonlinear process, and it is so important to allow yourself the space to grieve the loss of your relationship. Embrace the things that bring you joy, whether that be a long walk, a cozy movie night, coffee with a friend, or time with family.
3. Recognize Your Emotions
It’s normal following a breakup to feel a wide range of emotions. Instead of ignoring or trying to suppress these emotions, we recommend identifying and accepting them as a part of the healing process. You can use words and phrases of affirmations like “my feelings are valid,” “I am doing my best,” or “I am allowed to feel this way,” “I am not defined by how I feel.”
4. Create Distance
Moving on after breakup can be especially challenging if you maintain contact with your ex partner. Getting rid of physical and digital reminders of your ex and limiting text messages, phone calls, or in person conversations can allow for a smoother healing process.
5. Connect with Others
Lean into your friendships and relationships with others. When you’re tempted to text or call your ex, reach out to a friend or family member instead. Building a strong support system can help you in moving on after breakup.
6. Seek Professional Support
Connecting with a therapist or relationship coach following a breakup can help you to understand and process emotions and find closure. Continue reading to learn how we can support you in healing after breakup at the Jessica Yaffa Coaching Institute.
How a Relationship Coach Can Support You
Each relationship, and thus each breakup, is unique. A relationship coach is equipped with the knowledge and tools to support you on your individual journey to healing after breakup. Our coaches at the Jessica Yaffa Coaching Institute specialize in a variety of relational topic areas and work with a wide range of clients on their personal and interpersonal journeys. We work diligently to match each client with the coach that can best support their journey.
In addition to individual coaching sessions, we offer relationship workshops on a variety of topics. Our upcoming workshops include Conflict to Connection: A Workshop for Couples, Empower: Unlock Your Inner Strength and Confidence, Empowered Parenting: Understanding and overcoming bullying, Healing Through Loss: Navigating Life’s Transitions, and 1 Out of 3: What Everyone Needs to Know about Relationship Abuse. Visit our workshops page to learn more about each of these offerings and register!
