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Thinking of Getting Back with Your Ex? Remember to Follow These 18 Rules

Updated on October 16, 2025 by TMM Staff · Lifestyle

A handsome gray-haired man in a white shirt leaning on a black window frame, looking outdoors.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

Breakups aren’t fun, and they certainly can bring you down in the dumps. You feel like the world has ended, life has lost all color, and there is no point in existing any longer. Well, this is the confusion talking, and it is not the end of the world. You are now free to start over again and paint something new on the canvas we call life. Or, if you want to chase after your ex and try to win them back, then that is also permissible, albeit a bit strange. Many friends and family members might warn you about the futility of this act, but what can you do? You are in love. You want your ex and miss them like crazy, so what do the opinions of outsiders matter to you?  

You know what you want in life and have already spent time healing from your breakup. Now is the time to reenter your ex’s life and try to win them back. But you should do that in a manner that doesn’t sacrifice your self-respect in the process.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Rethink the Entire Act First
  • Check if they Have Moved On
  • Don’t Make Contact
  • Healing Comes First
  • Stop Stalking Immediately
  • Focus on yourself and the Relationship
  • Own Your Mistakes in the Breakup
  • Leave Jealousy Behind
  • Casual Reconnection
  • Time is the Magic Potion
  • Actions Speak Louder than Words
  • Trust Needs to Be Rebuilt
  • Begging is Never the Solution
  • Don’t Idealize the Past
  • Be natural
  • Keep the Expectations Low and You Won’t be Disappointed
  • You Might Have to Walk Away
  • Don’t Force Things
  • Final Thoughts

Rethink the Entire Act First

A pensive middle-aged man in a tan coat and red sweater riding a bus.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

You should step back and accord yourself the introspection that this decision so profoundly needs. Getting back with your ex is a huge step and not one that should be taken lightly. You have to give yourself enough time to heal and recover. Also, the same rule applies to your ex, so let them recover from the breakup as well.

Check if they Have Moved On

The back view of a woman with a backpack standing still as a fast-moving train speeds by.
©János Venczák/Unsplash.com

This is the most pivotal and crucial step to follow before you go on a quest of recapturing your ex’s heart. Humans are prone to evolving, and the same goes for your ex. Check through common friends or over the internet if they have moved on to a new relationship. If they have, then we strongly suggest you give up and abandon this entire operation. If they have, then it shows they didn’t value your relationship enough to take the time to heal and introspect. Feel free to move on as well under such a scenario.

Don’t Make Contact

A close-up of a man in a dark, dimly lit room, illuminated by the bright screen of the smartphone he is looking at.
©Eddy Billard/Unsplash.com

You want to gain a perspective on the relationship, then you have to give yourself time and space. Distance is necessary for you both because you need time to mull things over. Give it a few weeks to process your emotions. Make sure you are ready to step back into your past relationship for the right reasons.

Healing Comes First

A man in a brown hoodie sits on the wooden steps of a deck, holding a mug.
©Valeriia Miller/Unsplash.com

You are certainly going to be reeling from the aftereffects of the breakup, so allow yourself time to ruminate and focus on healing. You can’t hope to repair and reconcile with your ex if you are still in pain. So, just give yourself sufficient time to heal and emerge from the process stronger and wiser.

Stop Stalking Immediately

A close-up of a smartphone screen displaying a folder labeled "Social" containing app icons.
©Panos Sakalakis/Unsplash.com

Listen, while you are healing, maybe you should ditch social media. Because no matter what you do, you are eventually going to end up on your ex’s feed. This benefits no one, and you feel sharp pangs of loneliness and anxiety. Spare yourself the pain and just stop stalking your ex immediately.  

Focus on yourself and the Relationship

A strong, focused man in a gray t-shirt and black shorts performing an overhead press.
©Vitaly Gariev/Unsplash.com

You have been given a golden chance to grow as an individual through this breakup. Maybe it was something lacking in you that drove your ex away. Maybe you need to hit the gym, read some books, expand your horizons, travel more, and generally become a more evolved person. This is likely to have a positive impact on your life, regardless of whether you end up getting back with your ex or not.

Own Your Mistakes in the Breakup

A man with hands on head standing against the setting sun.
©Jeremy Perkins/Unsplash.com

Breakups don’t happen because of one partner in a relationship. Both parties are to blame, and you probably had your fair share of the blame in the breakup as well. The first mature step on the road to reconciliation lies in confessing to your fault. You need to be emotionally responsible and show your ex that you have grown, mended your ways, and are willing to give it another go.

Leave Jealousy Behind

A stylish young man in a black leather jacket and dark jeans sitting on the corner of a staircase landing in the dark.
©Jordan González/Unsplash.com

A spectacular way to destroy your attempts at reconciliation is attempting to make your ex jealous. This is a petty act, and it will only make you look immature and incorrigible in your ex’s eyes. You need to stop with the showcasing and start showing your ex that you want to get back together and aren’t interested in chasing after anyone else. This genuine approach will be appreciated by your ex.

Casual Reconnection

A close-up of a man in a plain black t-shirt holding a smartphone with both hands while looking down.
©Jonas Leupe/Unsplash.com

You should really keep the conversation casual when you text your ex. They might be expecting a message from your side, so it is integral that you don’t come off like a raving maniac or depressed puppy. Just keep it cool and straightforward and ask them about their health, life, and current preoccupations. Imagine you are hitting up an old friend and not a lover and you might just make it to the later stages.

Time is the Magic Potion

A somber-looking woman in a dark tank top is seen through a dark glass door or window.
©Daniel Martinez/Unsplash.com

Time is the healing potion that you need to mend all grievances. Give your ex the time to settle down and reminisce about you. No doubt, if there is a connection, then they will certainly start missing you. They may reach out to you as well. For you, it will afford you the precious moments required to meditate, rectify your attitude, and try to become a better person. Don’t rush things and let time take its course because being impatient can destroy your chances at reconciliation in their infancy.

Actions Speak Louder than Words

A close-up of a couple standing against a brick wall; the man wears a black leather jacket, and their hands are clasped together holding a bouquet of deep red roses.
©Vladislav Iakunichev/Unsplash.com

Mere words won’t do if you are trying to prove to your ex that you have changed. Rather, try to convince them with your actions. Show them that you have grown as a person, and they might just come running back to you.

Trust Needs to Be Rebuilt

A couple sitting side-by-side on a sandy beach gazing out at the large waves breaking under an overcast sky.
©Hrant Khachatryan/Unsplash.com

You will need to strive to rebuild the trust that was lost. This might seem like a daunting task, but with patience, perseverance, and constancy, you can certainly do it. Also, skip the grand gestures of apology or promises. They are tacky and won’t do you much good.

Begging is Never the Solution

A young man in a gray blazer and black turtleneck sitting on a park bench with a woman.
©Getty Images/Unsplash.com

No matter what you do, don’t ever resort to begging. It gives the impression of weakness and drains respect faster than you might think. If you are going to be getting your partner back, then do it resolutely and respectfully, not with a cringe-inducing begging show that reeks of desperation.

Don’t Idealize the Past

A young man standing in a modern home office, holding a mug and looking out a large window.
©Milles Studio/Unsplash.com

Not everything was roses, rainbows, and everything nice the first time you were in the relationship. You need to keep reminding yourself and eschew idealizing the past. You won’t be able to patch things up with only love if the problems of old are still in the equation.

Be natural

A young woman in a black tank top looking into a mirror while applying red lipstick
©Ana Itonishvili/Unsplash.com

Let your ex see you unfiltered and without any glow-up. Take pride in your appearance and face them in your natural, unaltered state. It is not the exterior that counts, but rather the change that you have achieved internally that matters to your ex.

Keep the Expectations Low and You Won’t be Disappointed

A close-up shot of a couple holding hands while walking down a cobblestone street.
©_leonora_leo/Unsplash.com

This is the best rule to follow if you want to escape disappointment. Consider this: what if you do end up together? Or what if they respond in a highly reinforcing and encouraging manner? Are things going to go back to the way they were instantly? You know that is not the case. That is why you should approach this entire endeavor with lowered expectations to not end up disappointed or embittered.

You Might Have to Walk Away

A person walking away from the camera and toward the bright light at the end of a hallway.
©Josewa Leonard James/Unsplash.com

Yes, you heard that right, you might have to walk away, again. No, it is not inexorable, but there is a chance that things might not work out. Ensure that you have prepared yourself for such an outcome, and always be prepared to walk away if the love you experience starts infringing on your self-respect.

Don’t Force Things

A man and a woman sitting in wooden rocking chairs on a porch, drinking from mugs.
©Sandra Seitamaa/Unsplash.com

As was mentioned before, you don’t have to force things. Let them flow spontaneously. If what you had was true, then it will return to you effortlessly, and things will be all the better for it.

Final Thoughts

©Kateryna Hliznitsova/Unsplash.com

Getting your ex back isn’t a move that many would recommend, but if you are dead set on it, then go on and get them. Just remember that you need to practice caution, steel yourself for heartbreak once again, and approach this endeavor with a calm and confident stance.

Lifestyle

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About TMM Staff

The Modest Man staff writers are experts in men's lifestyle who love teaching guys how to live their best lives.

If an article is published under TMM Staff, that means multiple writers worked on it. For example, sometimes several of us have experience with a certain brand, so we collaborate to publish a more thorough review.

Or, if an article was originally written by one person, but then it was updated by someone else, we'll re-publish it under TMM Staff.

Remember: all of our articles (including those below) are written by real people with decades of combined experience in men's fashion and lifestyle topics.

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