There is nothing more heart wrenching than when you get dumped, but what is even worse is when your ex moves on before you. You sit lay in bed, watch sappy love movies and eat potato chips and chocolate. So how do you get back in there? How do you get yourself back on the playing field… of love?

1. Don’t Fret: You know you have tenth period with your ex so have fun with the situation rather than dwell on it. Dress up by wearing your little black dress with red tights underneath and combat boots. Be sure to curl your hair and wear red lip stick. If you are a really bold person, you can even go for the cat eye look. All of this is sure to impress your ex and send him crawling back. For you heart-broken guys—spike the hair, wear a coral colored V-neck with dark jeans and Sperry’s. With this look, you will make her knees weak. Seeing your ex yearn for you again is a sure way to get your confidence back so you can kick that person to the side.

2. Go on a Couple of Dates: Nothing serious, just for fun. Possibly pick someone you know and enjoy being around, but no one that you might fall for too easily. This is not a serious date, just an attempt to dip your toes in the water of dating. Go somewhere that you can be yourself—a sit-down dinner is most likely going to make you feel uncomfortable. Instead, go play mini golf, bowling, race Go Karts, go ice skating. Just remember to enjoy yourself and not to think about the situation too much.

3. Be the Crushee: You know that one person that likes you, so use it to your advantage. Flirt with that person, in order to find out if you are even ready to date again. This person can just be your go-to. Try to not make it appear as if you are using them. Treat them like a super close friend—someone that you can go out with late at night, share all of your secrets with and even have over for dinner with your parents. There is only one thing to keep in mind: do not become attached or fall for this person. They call it a crush for a reason; they were meant to look at because they are cute but not datable.

4. Work out the love: Everyone has a way to release pain and anger, and there is no better way to do so than by making your body better at the same time, by working out or just going for a jog. You can run away from the mean phrases your ex said to you while improving your body to make them wish they would not have left you in the first place. Not only are you keeping your ex’s eye on you, but you will also attract the attention of other school mates and all of those that see you working out in your spandex. By doing this, you are sure to meet the eye of someone who may become a special someone.

5. Mindless Stress Release: You always spent all of your time with your now ex-significant other, so now do all of those things you wish you would have done. Go see your family and spend quality time with your parents. Be sure to go on a date night with just the girls or go have a bro’s night with your closest male friends. Go to all of your sibling’s school and social events. Focusing on family and friends again is a guaranteed way to get your mind of off your pesky ex.

6. Treat Yourself: Now that you have all of this time to yourself, you have the ability to focus on the most important person in this situation: you. Girls: go on a spa day—get the massage and facial you have been dying to get, also be sure to touch up your nails with a mani-pedi. Guys: go play your favorite sport and catch up on all that you missed out on while being taken. Lounge around on the sofa watching the latest Guy Code and enjoy the homemade dinner your mom is cooking. Pleasing the inner you allows for a reconnection between you and your needs or wants.

7. Therapy Crazed: Everyone knows that therapy can be annoying, telling someone all of your problems for them to just give you a solution you have already tried. Avoid this with retail therapy—yes, the girls love this one. Buying items for yourself can boost your self-esteem and give you that confidence you need to branch out and meet new people. Girls can go buy that new miniskirt that is on sale and guys can buy the latest trending sweater.

8. Live it Up: The girl down the street is throwing the biggest get together of the year and you just received your invite. Go! Having fun and being around others is just what the doctor ordered, so you can pick up the pieces to your broken heart. The guy you have been crushing on is going, so you have to look incredible and dazzle yourself up a bit. When you get there, 30-minutes late of course, go straight into the crowd and get the attention you want. Your crush is eyeing you from the corner so go mingle with him and offer him a dance. Once the party ends have him treat you to ice cream and possibly a movie. Getting into the scene of the action is the best way to meet someone new.

9. Throw Away Your Ex: All of your pictures and clothing articles of theirs throw them away. This way you have nothing that will remind you of that ex. Try to not go crazy and burn everything—your goal is not to become obsessed with destroying that person, simply remove the memories by putting everything in the trash. By doing this you will, hopefully, have no more distractions from becoming a new, outgoing person that does not need a significant other.

10. More Fish in the Sea: That awful ex is not the only person that will ever give you attention and it is time to realize that. You may not be ready to date but start picking out cuties with your best friends and slip one of them your number. This is just for fun; it does not have to be anything serious unless you want it to be. This way everything is on your terms and at your own pace. Guys and girls alike can become over bearing and that is a caution in this step. As soon as you feel overwhelmed it is your responsibility to put an end to it—for the sake of your happiness. The goal here is to become more aware of the fact that there is someone else out there that can treat you a lot better and could possibly make you a lot happier.