When you have experienced heartbreak, you turn to self-destructive activities like drinking, isolating yourself, or hooking up with others thinking it will help you forget your ex.
But these kinds of activities don’t help you to build self-worth and confidence and do more harm than good.
“Time,” they say heal all wounds, but there are fun and entertaining things to do after a breakup that can help you build and improve yourself for the better.
Because of this, I have carefully curated a list of 22 hobbies (things)to do after a breakup.
22 Fun Hobbies To Do After A Breakup To Lift Up Your Spirits
Learn A New Language
After a painful breakup, we mostly dwell on memories of past events with our ex. To help avoid that, focus your mind on learning a new language that can help you develop and improve yourself.
It also helps fight against feelings of depression. Multiple studies show that learning a new language improves not only your ability to communicate more widely but also helps you to meet new people, build strong connections, and avoid isolating yourself.
Take language lessons with online apps like Memrise or Duolingo, or learn specifically one of the best languages in the world, Spanish from a language expert.
Take A Dance Class
Dancing is not only a great way to have but can really be healthy emotionally. Depending on the kind of dance you choose to pick up, the movements themselves have been shown by studies to help reduce stress and depression because of the huge release of endorphins. It is also a great hobby to keep you in shape.
Write What You Know
Writing is a superpower. More specifically, emotional writing is one of the best ways to take what is in your head and throw it on paper.
You can either write about yourself in the form of a poem, memoir, or even a fiction book. It will help you deal with those negative emotions boiling up after the breakup.
Write the next break-up book and tell people about your challenges so they can learn from your story.
Your Story doesn’t need to be a 500-page book. it could just be a 25 – 30 page ebook.
Ty Cohen, an Amazon Kindle Superstar, has a very powerful system for creating simple ebooks and selling them on Amazon for huge profits.
Check out his masterclass so he can help you get started.
Learn To Cook
Create a schedule for yourself and start cooking some of your favorite dishes. You don’t need to be cooking for two, cook for yourself and sharpen your skills.
But if cooking is not something you fancy, learn to cook with these easy recipes even if you haven’t cooked a day in your life.
Learn to play a musical instrument
“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”, a popular music quote by Berthold Auerbach helps us to understand that music can help you deal with negative emotions.
Playing an instrument is the best way to get intimate with music. A guitar is one of the best instruments to start playing. Studies show that it is a great form of therapy and a great way to stimulate your creativity.
Learn how to play the guitar with step-by-step video lessons by Express Guitar.
For more music ideas, Click Here.
Give Back by Volunteering And Donating
Giving your time and money to support others helps you to deal with your negative emotions of breaking up. I know it is hard and you’re going through a lot but you can only deal with such emotions when you replace them with positive ones.
So, join your local community and help others, and in turn, you are helping yourself.
Join A Yoga Class
Yoga is very good for the body and mind.
It will help you get in shape and also refresh your mind in ways you do not even know as possible.
Joining a yoga class will help you make friends with like-minded people and possibly meet the new love of your life.
Benefits of Yoga
- Increased mental strength
- Improved Muscle Tone and Strength
- Reduction in Weight
- Make you very athletic
- Increased energy levels and overall personal mood (Makes you feel good)
Get Your Nature on By Hiking
Nature is soothing and healing so start packing your things. Hiking is a great way to connect with nature and a fun thing to do after a breakup. Your world does not revolve around your Ex. You also have a life of your own. Enjoy it to the fullest and also get to meet new people as well.
Start reading books
Books offer an escape into the world of other minds. You’re not alone. Your situation is one of the millions in the world. Reach out for help in books and you will be amazed by the wealth of information you will find.
Here are some of the best breakup books on the market.
6 Best Breakup Books to help you heal
- The Breakup Bible: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Healing from a Breakup or Divorce’ by Rachel Sussman
- Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You by Susan J. Elliott
- When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön
- It’s Not Okay: Turning Heartbreak into Happily Never After’ by Andi Dorfman
- Year of Yes’ by Shonda Rhimes
- Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life From Dear Sugar’ by Cheryl Strayed
Start Meditating
Wondering what to do after a breakup. Try meditation.
Meditation is healing for the mind and body. Your mind becomes a battlefield during such tough times and with this activity, you can calm your mind down, relax your body, and remove negative distractions from your mind. Studies done by researchers show provides great benefits to physical and mental health.
If you are a beginner at Meditation, learn how to meditate with ease here.
Start Journaling
Daily scribbling of your thoughts and ideas will allow you to see your thoughts more clearly and how you may be wrong about yourself.
Breakups come with a lot of mental baggage and a journal offers you the opportunity to dive in and bring them out.
You can also practice being grateful with your journal.
Book a Trip to Somewhere New
Breaking up makes you feel lonely, so one of the best ways is to have a change of environment. Take your passport and travel to a new destination and have some adventure.
Adopt A Pet
Pet animals are a great source of joy and can be a very good source of emotional support for us in our down moments.
You can teach your pet tricks and play with them.
Believe me, you will not even remember you are alone during those moments.
I can relate to this one in a big way, you will love them.
Start playing with Technology
Do something great. Learn to code. Start creating applications for either mobile, laptop, or desktops so you can develop yourself mentally and financially if you decide to make it a business. Life is not all gloomy after a breakup from a relationship.
Online sites like Skillshare, Pluralsight, and freecodecamp offer free online coding lessons for everyone no matter their geographical location.
Take Art Classes
Use these trying times in your life to bring up the artistic side of yourself. Art helps you to see the world from a different perspective. It helps you to focus on other aspects of the world rather than your Ex.
You can find art lessons on Skillshare, Udemy, or YouTube.
Join a cycling group
Being alone is not a very effective way to deal with a breakup. Enjoy the benefits of exercise, both physically and mentally, and the opportunity to socialize and mingle with other people other than your Ex.
Learn to Knit
Knitting helps you take your mind off your Ex because it requires serious focus. Concentration is key to this hobby and will help you not necessarily because of the mental shift but helps your mind to rewire in other ways. As the saying goes “What Fires Together Wires Together”.
So, fire your wires of creativity and ignore your wires of negative emotions.
Learn to Play Tennis
Tennis is a great and fun hobby to keep in shape but also a great activity to focus on developing yourself. It requires skill and creativity and will help you to strengthen your mind and mood.
Try this fun hobby and enjoy yourself even during your breakup and keep shape while doing it.
Go Rock Climbing
Adventure! Rock climbing will help you to focus on yourself for once and develop your innate abilities. There are several indoor climbing destinations in your local community that you can visit and participate in.
Start Playing Games
Video games offer an escape from your emotions and worries. However, it provides enormous benefits for the brain. Numerous studies show that gaming can help improve your creativity and problem-solving skills. There are also offline games like football and Twister games you can play with friends and other like-minded people.
It is a great way to make new friends and get some exercise and fresh air.
Instead of playing it alone, play with your friends and family. It is fun and will help you create an atmosphere of love that you think you got from your partner. It makes you see that you are NOT ALONE.
Improve those problem-solving skills and memory by getting a group of friends together and playing a card game! Games such as the classic Hearts are available in single or multiplayer modes online. You can also access helpful guides, making it the perfect game for players of all skill levels and a great hobby to pick up.
Start A YouTube Channel
Instead of focusing on your feelings of loss and hurt, you can use that energy to start a channel on YouTube.
Choose something you know maybe a skill or anything you are passionate about and start sharing it on YouTube. It will not only build your self-worth and confidence but will help you see a whole new different world.
Start your own YouTube Channel the right way with one of the best YouTube courses, Tube Mastery and Monetization by Matt Par.
Start Playing Puzzles
Just as weights are lifted for body strength, puzzles are weights to help you build mental strength as well. Use puzzles as a way to build yourself up mentally and focus on the positive aspects of life.
You can find various puzzles like Sudoku, Jigsaw puzzles, and Nonograms online.
Conclusion
Breakups are difficult but with the help of these activities, you can overcome them to some extent.
However, these hobbies are not a substitute for any medical treatment – psychotherapy, depression, or any serious side effect you might be suffering from.
If your situation is dire you should check with a certified psychotherapist or consider taking prescribed depression supplements to help you with your condition.