The Gen Z way of navigating breakups

AS the new year comes to a close, people say goodbye to several things in their lives as they prepare for a new chapter. 

While some say goodbye to bad habits, regrets, and worries, others bid farewell to some individuals who once became part of their lives like colleagues, a family member, and even a romantic partner. 

Breakups have been a hot topic these days among Filipinos, especially when Jamela Villanueva, the ex-girlfriend of “Can’t Buy Me Love” actor Anthony Jennings, exposed on social media the latter’s alleged betrayal with co-star Maris Racal. 

This comes after Jennings confirmed in an interview with Mega Kapamilya in November that he and Villanueva parted ways after seven years. He also confirmed that he and Racal are only “friends.” Racal, on the other hand, announced that she broke up with Original Pinoy Music (OPM) singer Rico Blanco in a press conference in July.

While the two celebrities have yet to comment on the matter, several netizens shared their similar experiences of being cheated on by their former partners which eventually led to painful breakups. 

Regardless of the reason, dealing with breakups is never easy. Imagine investing your time and effort in that person and then one day you are no more than just strangers to each other. 

Members of Generation Z have various ways to cope with breakups, which could be helpful to those who are experiencing them.

Acknowledge your feelings

One of the significant steps towards healing is letting oneself feel the pain. Whether they want to cry or get angry, it is best to let those difficult feelings show than avoid them. 

It is important to note that these uncomfortable feelings are temporary, and if a person embraces them, they could help them foster a deeper connection with their thoughts and feelings and guide them toward recovery. 

Take a break from social media

Sometimes, Gen Zs could not help but catch a glimpse of what their former partners are up to through social media—whether through a story posted by their common friend or their ex-partner’s post randomly popped on their feed. 

While some believe unfriending or unfollowing their former partner would allow them recover, others opt to detox from social media for better mental and physical health. Social media detox brings many benefits to one’s well-being, including better sleep, less stress and anxiety, enhanced productivity, and improved self-esteem.

Prioritize wellness

One popular way for the young generation to protect and boost their mental and physical well-being is to practice self-care. 

Self-care does not require spending a lot of money and energy. It could be through being grateful for every day, meditating at home, or reflecting on their painful experience by journaling, which may help them process their heartbreak, express their feelings and thoughts without judgment, and identify the lessons they can learn from it.

Look for distractions

The goal is to deal with a breakup and recover from it, but it can also be good to take a break from these painful feelings every so often by distracting oneself.

While some go back to investing their time in stanning a K-pop or P-pop group by watching their content online, buying their merchandise, and attending their concert, others go on a soul-searching trip like connecting and embracing nature. Yes, looking for distractions can be helpful but not to the extent that one suppresses their feelings and avoids the heartbreaking journey they are supposed to go through. 

Seek support

Remember that one’s pain is not something they should carry all alone. There will always be individuals—like trusted friends and family members—around them who are willing to listen to their narrative, understand what they are going through, and be their support system as they navigate a difficult path. 

Seeking professional advice from experts is a great source of support, too, especially if a person is having trouble managing their feelings to the point that it is already affecting the quality of their life. Professionals can help individuals manage these challenging emotions, offer a safe place where they can openly express their grief or rage without fear of being judged, and support them as they work toward recovery and closure.

It may take time to heal from those scars in a person’s heart but know that they are going to be okay and everything will fall into place. Even if the relationship does not work out the way they had intended, they can still learn something worthwhile from it that could make them stronger than they ever thought possible.