It’s all happened to us at one point or another. You mind your own business when you receive a message from an ex. It’s a dreaded text that says three familiar words, “I miss you.” You roll your eyes and look up, wondering why they had to text you first. Couldn’t they just leave you in peace? The answer is a hard no. They want to make sure that you don’t forget them because they can’t move on. So how do you deal with a lingering ex?
1. Don’t respond
The worst thing you can do is give in to their attempts to contact you. This further motivates them to keep reaching out to you and gives them the idea that you potentially still want them. If you have no intention of getting back together with your ex, then there’s no reason to entice this false hope. I know that it may be tempting to respond to an ex, especially one you truly loved, but it’s not worth it at the end of the day. Leave all messages on reading and move on.
2. Delete them on social media
The sooner you delete your ex on social media, the better. Social media allows people to look into your life without actually being in it, which is why people spend so much time on it. Staying friends with an ex on social media let them know that you’re okay with what is going on in their life (even if you’re not). Deleting your ex lets them know that you don’t wish to be followed or involved.
3. Make it clear that you don’t want to be contacted
Make it clear that you do not wish to be contacted by your ex if you haven’t already. If you’ve ignored your ex and continue to contact you, say what you need to say to them and leave it. Be direct and honest in your reasons for why you don’t want to hear from them. Most people will be able to take the hint.
4. Block them
You may have ex’s who simply cannot take the hint, even after you tell them not to contact you multiple times. This is where you block them. At the end of the day, you have your peace of mind, and it’s important to protect that. If your ex is making multiple attempts to contact you that makes you feel uncomfortable, then you should definitely block them.
5. Focus on you
The past is the past, and you while you can’t change what happened between you and your ex, you can move forward. This means focusing on you and things that make you happy and not worrying about your ex. Be kind to yourself and try to move on the best way you can.
