Yes, absolutely physical exercise. It’s the best way to get out of your head, make you feel better about yourself, and help you sleep better at night afterward. You can also throw yourself into a project – cook a big meal, start a jigsaw puzzle, do some home improvement, clean your closet…

I also find listening to podcasts is good. Try Dear Sugar Radio if you want some advice and commiseration, or Radiolab for something more educational.

Therapy helps if you can afford it and it’s accessible to you. Talking to friends/family helps but it’s not quite the same as having a professional you pay to listen to you and who won’t get tired of you. I’ve found that if I complain too much to friends or family and they start to burn out on me then I feel even worse. They also don’t always give the best advice.

Journaling helps – schedule 30 minutes every day to write out all your thoughts and feelings. If thoughts come up outside that window you can tell yourself you need to wait until the scheduled time.

Also you can try to write a letter to your ex who you are hung up on (don’t send it!!). Get everything out that you wish you could say to him/her. Say what hurts, what you’re confused about, good memories you shared, lessons you learned. Then burn the letter or throw it out.