you meet new people, you feel good about yourself, maybe you get laid. but there are also times when you need to take a break from dating and hang out with yourself. instead of filling up your time with bad tinder dates and worrying about whether a partner you don’t even really like is going to text you back, you can do literally anything else. seriously, you can get a lot of stuff done when you’re not worried about romance. …

when it comes to post-breakup dating, there are two main philosophies: one is that, if you date right after a breakup, you’re rebounding, which is unhealthy. how long should you really wait to date after a breakup? “most people need a month or two to process the breakup, to mourn, and to integrate lessons before jumping back in if they were in a fairly serious relationship,” she says. if you dated someone for a year or more, you may need …

but if you’re in it for the wrong reasons, it might be selfish of you and unfair for the other person. the flaws suddenly come out, and you find yourself at a crossroads where you’ll have to decide if the person will be worth your time. in just a few minutes, you can connect with a certified relationship coach and get tailor-made advice for your situation. commitment is a huge deal for both men and women, and when you start …

reflecting on your personal growth and past relationships can help you gauge your ability to foster new and healthy connections with other singles, victoria goldenberg, a therapist and member of the media advisory group at hope for depression research foundation, told insider. if you can point to a handful of passions and hobbies you do for your own self-pleasure and fulfillment, it’s a sign you’re ready to meet someone new. you are the creator of your own happiness in life, …

you have to live your life, thank your ex for the memories, change out of your sweatpants, and take some tentative steps back towards living a normal life. even after you’ve decided that you’re ready to go back out into the dating world, navigating it can be difficult. depending on if and how you were burned by your last relationship, there’s a good chance that you’re going to feel skeptical, hesitant, and maybe even suspicious of every potential partner who …