How-to

How to Deal When Your Ex Gets Engaged (and It's All Over the Internet)

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It's that time of year again, when your Facebook and Insta feeds are blowing up with ring selfiessurprise proposals, and "OMG I can't wait to spend my life with my best friend forever and ever" posts... It can be unnerving, annoying, and sometimes straight up depressing.
If you're spending this holiday season solo, the announcement of your once beloved's pending happily ever after can be enough to put you over the edge. We feel you, for real. So, we present to you the dos and don'ts of how to deal when you find out your ex is engaged:    

1. Do NOT Reach Out

We know what you’re thinking. What says “I’m over it” like a friendly congratulations note, right? No matter what their response is, a message could stir up some unresolved feelings on either end. Give your old flame some space and hold back the urge to “poke” them. They chose a partner and hey, it isn’t you. No need to well wish right now.

2. Do NOT Deep Dive

What’s a deep dive, you ask? It’s a totally unhealthy thirty minute (ok, make that three hour…)  stalk of your ex’s new relationship across all social media platforms. How did they meet? How long have they been together? Where have they traveled? Unleashing your inner Nancy Drew will likely only bring on anxiety and sadness. Forget about how they wound up engaged after only seven months of being Facebook official and refocus.

3. Do NOT Reminisce

When you see someone you once loved in newly-engaged bliss it’s easy to think about what went wrong with your own relationship. Resist digging up old photos, scrolling through old text messages, and unearthing emails, love notes, or anything else that will inflict unnecessary pain. You broke up for a reason, so don’t torture yourself with what-ifs and should-haves. Your ex wasn’t the one. Let’s move on.

4. DO Treat Yo Self

You know what you can do with all that time you were about to spend scrolling through your ex’s Instagram feed? Remind yourself how ah-mazing you are with some well-deserved pampering. Schedule a massage at your favorite spa, make an appointment at that new nail salon, hit up your favorite yoga class, or take yourself out to an amazing meal. Self love is a great way to make yourself feel special and forget the temporary sting of the social media engagement storm.

5. DO Take a Social Media Time Out

If your feed is only getting more and more flooded with well wishes for the happy couple and more engagements, it may be time to take a social media time out. Delete Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter from your phone for two weeks. A little social media detox will help you to live in the now instead of the seemingly infinite feed. If you can’t bring yourself to uninstall the apps, try hiding your ex’s stories on Facebook and unfollow them on Insta.

6. DO Be Social IRL

No matter what, resist the urge to stay holed up in your apartment feeling sad about your ex’s newfound happiness. If you’re single, plan a big night out with your besties and bask in the freedom of being unattached. If you’re spoken for, it’s time for a date night that reminds you just how much you care for your current love. It’s time to leave the past in the past! 
Kellee Khalil
About The Author
Kellee Khalil is the Founder & CEO of Loverly. She lives in upstate NY with her fiancé and two dogs.
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