1. These tricks would help you stop obsessing over your ex-lover
Those who struggle a lot to nurse a broken heart can very well relate to what Kylie Minogue sang decades back—“I just can’t get you out of my head. Boy, your love is all I think about”. If you are one of those people whose mind slides into those old familiar feelings and memories attached to an ex-partner, here’s some help to get your life on track.
2. The band around your wrist technique
This is a very simple and straightforward technique to stop your mind from wandering into restricted territories like the memories of your ex-lover. Tie a rubber band around your wrist and snap it whenever you catch yourself thinking about your ex-partner. This will divert your mind and send the message that every time your mind wanders, it will bring you physical pain.
3. A penny for your thought
Create a ‘thought box’ and every time you catch yourself thinking about your ex-partner, drop a hundred rupees note in the box. But here’s the twist, the money that goes into the box is not for your use. At the end of the month, you will have to use the money as a donation. After a while when this will burn a hole in your pocket, you would slowly realise how toxic this habit of obsessing over an ex-partner is.
4. Keep a memoir of your thoughts
This technique is all about turning your thoughts into words. If you keep thinking about your ex-partner, you can as well put words to your thoughts and write those down on a notebook. And every time you sit down to write your thoughts, just make a point to read what you have written previously. You will be surprised to find that most of the thoughts are repetitive and when you would realise the futility of your habit, you would gradually break free from it.
5. Break the chain of thoughts
Here’s another exercise that can prove very helpful to break your chain of obsessive thoughts. Whenever you are disturbed by your ex-lover’s thoughts, convert that emotional energy into something physical. For example, if you are in office and you catch yourself thinking about your ex, just get up from your seat and go to the water cooler station to fill your bottle of water. This will break your chain of thoughts. Or, you can simple refill your mug of coffee and take a break from your work to chat with your colleague.
6. Practise mindfulness
This technique of practising mindfulness is another helpful way to divert your mind. Each time your mind wanders, listen to the sounds that surround you, try touching three things near you and try to spot five different colours around you. By doing this simple exercise you are focusing on your three senses—sound, sight and touch. This will keep your mind occupied and stop from obsessing over your past.
7. Give it some time
Like they say, ‘time is the biggest healer’. Everything will fall into place with time. What seems like an impossible task today, which in this case is keeping your mind under control, will feel like a cakewalk tomorrow. So, give your self some time and your mind too would calm down slowly.