3 Smart Ways To Make A Rebound Relationship Work
It doesn't have to go down that way.
Ending a relationship can be one of the toughest and most revealing things we go through. The loneliness after a breakup often leads us to look for a rebound relationship, which infamously never seem to work out.
Breakups force us to be honest about what we've been doing wrong in the hopes that we'll be more clear when it comes to what we want in our future romances. They leave us raw, vulnerable and well, kind of crazy.
It's not bad or anything to be ashamed of. You've had your heart broken and you're allowed to eat as much ice cream as you want or fall into whatever cliché you feel like falling into.
Sometimes we can do that uninterrupted and surrounded by a protective shield of friends and seclusion. Other times, we meet somebody new — and getting into that rebound relationship is when things can get dangerous.
However, while rebounds tend to have a bad rap, there's always the potential for something real to happen.
How to Make a Rebound Relationship Work
Love has a tendency to come when you least expect it, and that time might be when you've completely given up.
So if you find yourself about to (or in the middle) of a rebound and you're starting to freak out about what the eff you're doing, try these tips to keep your sanity — and maybe the guy too:
1. Go for the polar opposite of your ex.
The last thing on earth you want is another replica of what you just had. Not only will you be constantly comparing them to your ex, but it also keeps you in this small little bubble of experience and prevents you from seeing what else is out there.
So if you were previously in love with a nerdy, video-game loving guy, date a farmer. Don't worry so much about the end result, just try hanging out with someone you wouldn't normally hang out with and see what happens.
2. Stop making lists.
After a breakup, we've got a pretty clear picture of what we want and don't want out of a relationship. Love is at the forefront of our minds, and not in a good way. So while at that point in your life you had to get serious, this is the time you need to relax.
Throw away your pros and cons list, stop the late-night convos with your girlfriends about the "perfect man," and just focus on having fun.
3. Throw caution to the wind and be open to love.
Broken hearts suck, and after experiencing one, we set out to never have to feel that way ever again. It's a noble quest, but one that's physically impossible.
So stop making rules about what you will or won't accept in a man. Stop creating these stupidly high standards that no one you meet when you go out tonight will ever live up to. Your emotions have been completely drained and it's time to refill the tank. The only way you do that is by having fun.
And while there are no guarantees, when you let your guard down and just be, that's when the real magic happens.
Emily Blackwood is an editor at YourTango who covers pop culture, true crime, dating, relationships and everything in between.