How to Move On and Let Go After Heartbreak – Last First Date
How do you move on after heartbreak? Here are five steps to help you move on and let go after having your heart broken.
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Heartbreak hurts. Whether it was a short relationship that held so much promise or a long-term love that unraveled over time, the pain of letting go can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re dating later in life.
But here’s the truth: you can move forward. And not just forward—you can grow stronger, wiser, and more aligned with what you truly want in love.
Letting go doesn’t mean you forget. It means you honor what was and then make space for what’s next.
Here are five gentle but powerful ways to help you move on after heartbreak.
5 Ways to Move On and Let Go After Heartbreak
1. Feel Your Feelings and Don’t Rush the Process
Heartbreak is grief. And grief isn’t linear.
You might feel sad one day, angry the next, and totally fine the day after that—until a song, a smell, or a memory pulls you back in.
Instead of judging your emotions or trying to fast-forward through them, give yourself permission to feel it all. Journal. Cry. Take long walks. Talk to a trusted friend or coach. Healing begins when you stop resisting whatever emotions are coming up for you.
Feelings are like waves—let them rise and pass. You won’t drown if you don’t fight them.
2. Cut Off Contact (Yes, Even Social Media)
One of the hardest—and most necessary—steps in moving on is creating space.
That means no late-night check-ins on Instagram, no rereading old texts, no “just saying hi” messages. Every time you engage, you reopen the wound and delay your healing.
If it helps, say it out loud:
“I’m choosing myself now. I’m making space for the right match for me.”
Silence isn’t cold—it’s sacred. It’s how you begin to come back to yourself.
3. Challenge the Fantasy
We tend to romanticize what we’ve lost, especially when we’re hurting. But part of letting go is seeing the relationship clearly—not just the highlights reel.
Ask yourself:
- Did I feel emotionally safe in that relationship?
- Were my needs being met?
- Was I showing up fully as myself?
Be honest with yourself. Clarity is a form of self-love.
4. Rebuild Your New Routine As a Single
After a breakup, there’s often a void. Fill it with things that nourish you.
Go back to what lights you up—painting, cooking, dancing, reading, hiking. Reconnect with friends. Try something new. Create rituals that remind you of your worth, like morning affirmations or a weekly solo date.
The more you invest in your own joy, the less power your ex will have in your mind or heart.
5. Decide What You’re Taking With You
Every heartbreak carries wisdom. What are you learning about yourself? Your values? Your boundaries?
You get to decide:
- What patterns end here?
- What will you no longer tolerate?
- What kind of love are you ready to receive next?
Letting go isn’t just about losing someone—it’s about finding yourself again.
Moving on takes time, tenderness, and courage. But I promise—this pain is not your final chapter. It’s part of your transformation.
When you let go of what’s not right, you open up to what is.
And remember… it’s never too late to go on your last first date.
If you’re feeling stuck in dating and relationships and would like to finally find your person, sign up for a complimentary 45-minute love breakthrough session with Sandy https://lastfirstdate.com/application
Join Your Last First Date on Facebook https://facebook.com/groups/yourlastfirstdate
Get Sandy’s books, Becoming a Woman of Value; How to Thrive in Life and Love and Choice Points in Dating; Empowering Women to Make Healthier Decisions in Love and Love at Last: True Stories of Falling in Love Later in Life
