Breaking up sucks. One minute, you’re planning a future together — the next, you’re left with old photos, sleepless nights, and a playlist that feels like torture.
But here’s the truth: you don’t have to stay stuck.
Forget generic advice like “time heals all wounds.” That’s lazy, and it keeps you trapped.
Instead, I’m about to show you 3 proven, badass ways to forget your ex faster, rebuild your confidence, and step back into the version of you that feels unstoppable.
1. The “Cut the Cord” Method — No Half Measures, No Excuses
Here’s the mistake most people make: they try to wean themselves off an ex like caffeine. “We’ll stay friends.” “I’ll just check their socials sometimes.” That’s not healing — that’s self-sabotage.
The Cut the Cord Method works because it’s clean, sharp, and final:
- Delete the photos.
- Block them on social.
- Toss the old hoodie.
Every trigger is like pouring salt in the wound. Remove the triggers, and the wound can finally start to close.
👉 Why it works: Just like a bad habit, the craving fades when you stop feeding it. No more dopamine hits from scrolling their feed. No more mental reruns of old texts.
This is your reset button — fast, clean freedom.
🤔 But what if we share mutual friends or work together?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: if you have to see your ex, you need boundaries sharper than a razor. Keep interactions short, polite, and business-like. Don’t “accidentally” slip into personal conversations.
You’re not trying to win the breakup. You’re trying to win your peace of mind.
2. The “Upgrade Mission” — Rebuild Yourself Into Someone You’d Fall For
Here’s the ugly truth: part of the reason you’re stuck is because you’re defining yourself through your ex. You’ve lost your own frame.
The antidote? The Upgrade Mission. Treat yourself like the next project — the version of you that you’d never want to walk away from.
- Hit the gym like it owes you money.
- Pick up that skill you kept “meaning to try.”
- Buy clothes that make you feel sharp every time you look in the mirror.
👉 Why it works: You’re shifting focus from “what I lost” to “what I’m building.” And when you start stacking wins — new muscles, new style, new confidence — your brain naturally stops replaying the past.
Your ex becomes irrelevant because you’re too busy leveling up.
🤔 But what if I still love them?
That’s normal. Love doesn’t switch off like a light. But here’s the thing: love is a feeling, not a prison. You can feel it and still move forward.
The more you invest in yourself, the weaker that emotional pull becomes. Eventually, love turns into a memory — one that no longer controls you.
3. The “New Story” Formula — Replace Painful Memories With Powerful Experiences
Memories of your ex linger because they’re the strongest stories in your head. Dinner spots, songs, cities — they’re coded with meaning.
So what do you do? You overwrite them.
- Take a trip you’ve always dreamed of.
- Try something your ex never wanted to do.
- Build new rituals (coffee shop mornings, weekend hikes, late-night writing).
👉 Why it works: Your brain doesn’t delete stories, it replaces them. Every new memory weakens the old one. Every laugh with friends, every moment of joy, every achievement becomes proof: you’re writing a new chapter where your ex doesn’t exist.
🤔 But what if I run into them again?
It happens. And when it does, it feels like your progress just got nuked. Here’s the mindset shift: running into your ex is a test, not a setback.
Smile, nod, move on. Don’t re-open old doors. Walk away with dignity. Each time you do, you prove to yourself that you’re stronger than your past.
🚀 The Bottom Line: Action Over Time
Look — forgetting your ex isn’t about time. It’s about action. If you sit around waiting to “heal naturally,” you’ll stay stuck.
But when you cut the cord, upgrade yourself, and start writing a new story — the obsession fades fast.
Your ex doesn’t define you. You do. And once you step into that power, you won’t just forget them… you’ll actually be thankful they’re gone.
Until next time,
Stay safe,
Tasos
Tasos Moulios is the founder of Beardlong. He loves trying different beard and hair styles and blogs about them. The tips he shares come from his own experience and love for what he does.