Keeping pictures of an ex isn't inherently unhealthy; it's a personal choice, but it becomes unhealthy if the photos prevent you from moving on, cause current relationship issues, or if you're hiding them because you still have strong feelings, suggesting you're stuck in the past rather than acknowledging memories respectfully. It's healthy if you see them as part of your life's journey, store them away discreetly, and they don't trigger prolonged sadness or hinder your current life, while hiding them or being unable to delete them often signals unresolved feelings or an inability to fully accept the breakup.
Keeping exes' photos and letters is not inherently wrong, but it becomes problematic when it sustains unresolved emotional ties, undermines trust, or hurts your spouse. Prioritize honest communication, clear boundaries, and actions that protect your marriage.
The 72-hour rule suggests waiting at least three days before making any major decisions or reaching out to your ex after a breakup. The idea is that emotions run highest immediately after a relationship ends, and giving yourself time helps you avoid impulsive choices you might regret.
😔 The takeaway here is that while it's understandable to want to purge reminders of a past relationship, taking a moment to reflect and perhaps gradually remove photos might be a healthier approach. It allows for a respectful acknowledgment of those experiences and provides space to process emotions more thoughtfully.
The “no contact rule” is a 21-day period of intentional silence after someone has broken up with us. Why is this so important? Because the other person needs to feel the magnitude of what they've done, and without a period of absence, you remove the emotional fallout of their actions.
What's the 65% Rule? It's simple. If you feel unhappy, unseen, or emotionally drained in the relationship more than 65% of the time… it's already over.
But it does provide some rough guidelines as to how soon may be too soon to make long-term commitments and how long may be too long to stick with a relationship. Each of the three numbers—three, six, and nine—stands for the month that a different common stage of a relationship tends to end.
Not every relationship warrants the extensive timeframe of the 555 after a breakup approach. The 3-3-3 rule offers a condensed timeline: 3 days of intense emotional release, 3 weeks of active reflection, and 3 months of intentional rebuilding.
They might be holding onto hope or are still coming to terms with the breakup. Avoiding the Hassle: Some might simply find it tedious to go through their social media and remove old pictures. They might not attach any emotional significance to the photos being up and just haven't gotten around to taking them down.
The Early Warning Signs of a Breakup
They happen slowly, in the accumulation of distance, silence, and things left unsaid. When emotional safety fades, partners stop showing up for each other — not necessarily because they want to leave, but because they've stopped feeling seen, heard, or connected.
It really depends on whether the contact is very over-dependent, over-reliant on the ex-partner or actually, is it just like a normal friendship, just like another friendship and they have long moved on from their relationship and moved on from the feelings, the romantic feelings that were involved in their ...
Sometimes people keep old photos or maintain contact with their ex because they are unhappy with their present lover. It's usually the most recent ex that attracts their attention. There is an old saying that you should never get involved with someone who is rebounding from a failed relationship.
If you're ready to try and get your ex back, here are some tips on doing so:
So, each time you check their profile, you're not just reopening old wounds — -you're potentially making them deeper. Checking an ex's social media can provide a temporary sense of connection or information, but it can also hinder the emotional healing process.
Relationships ebb and flow. Plus, if you and your S.O. survived the dreaded two-year mark (i.e. the most common time period when couples break up), then you're destined to be together forever…
The 6-6-6 rule refers to men who are 6 feet tall, have six-pack abs and make over six figures.
Relationship researcher John Gottman identifies four specific behaviors that often predict divorce: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. He calls these the “Four Horsemen” and highlights the significant damage even one of these can inflict on a marriage.
At the three, seven, 11 and 15-year marks
You might've heard of the '“seven-year itch” before, but according to relationship counsellor Kim Polinder, there are multiple years that could be considered markers or hurdles in relationships: three, seven, 11 and 15.
Signs of unhealthy boundaries include excessive communication and emotional manipulation. They also include invading personal space and disrespecting new relationships. Examples include frequent unannounced visits and sharing personal information without consent.
Here's what I did:
In order to fully accept a breakup and move on, you need to understand what happened and acknowledge the part you played. The more you understand how the choices you made affected the relationship, the better you'll be able to learn from your mistakes—and avoid repeating them in the future.
7 signs you're healing from a breakup