The ex-files: should you should you be getting back together or moving on?

A 2010 TED talk showed that the start of the holidays is one of the most popular times to end a relationship. But, with these fresh starts can come fresh regrets. In fact, a recent EliteSingles study revealed that nearly half of Canadian singles (47%) have had a partner dump them, then beg to try getting back together.¹

Lost that loving feeling

In 2010, journalist and designer David McCandless digitally combed through 10,000 Facebook statuses to find phrases like ‘break up’ or ‘broken up.’ What he found was interesting: the use of these phrases fluctuates throughout the year, dipping dramatically on Christmas Day and rising on Mondays (and after the likes of Valentine’s Day). However, there were two peaks that loomed above all others – the start of spring and the start of the festive season. ^2,3

So what does this expected rise in the number of break ups mean for Canadian men and women? Well, if the results of a recent EliteSingles study are anything to by, we should also prepare ourselves for a rise in the number of cases of break up regret.

Baby come back

Indeed, such regrets are more common than you’d think. In fact, our recent study of 450 Canadians found that nearly half of those surveyed have experienced a ‘boomerang break up,’ with 47% reporting that they’ve had an ex-partner dump them, then beg for a second chance.

What’s more, 41% have been guilty of such behaviour themselves. It seems men are slightly more likely than women to experience dumper’s remorse: 44% of Canadian men admitting to breaking up with someone and regretting it, compared with 38% of Canadian women.

Breaking up is hard to do

So, what happens if an ex-partner does come back to you, pleading their case for getting back together? For a huge 56% of Canadians, the answer is quite simple: they’d take them back.

But is rekindling the sparks of an old flame really such a good idea? As marriage and family therapist Sherri Myers told the Huffington Post, it actually can be. After all, sometimes a short break from each other is all you need to ‘’ breathe new life and love back into a relationship that has lost its luster.’’⁴

Indeed, if the pair of you are both still in love, and if the reasons behind the split were small enough that you can both truly acknowledge them, fix or forgive them, and then learn to live with the fact that they happened, then there’s every chance your relationship will be even stronger the second time around.

Never, ever getting back together

Yet, not all romantic reunions are a good idea. Indeed, there are a number of reasons to join the 44% of Canadian singles who insist that getting back together is a bad ideas and that relationship rifts should be made permanent.

As New Zealand newspaper columnist Chaz Harris points out, sometimes you simply have conflicting goals in life (for instance, you want to be child free; they want a baby, stat). If that’s the case, then the best way forward might be to say goodbye: a little heartache now can save a lot of pain and resentment in the future.⁵

In Psychology Today, Jennice Vilhauer, Ph.D emphasizes that it’s also important to understand if you really do want your old relationship back (complete with the flaws that broke you up in the first place), or whether you are pining for an idealized version of it that only exists as fantasy. If one or both of you is nursing expectations that life will be radically different, then there’s simply no point in rekindling that spark.⁶ That way can only lie pain and, eventually, resentment and emotional distance.

You will survive

Essentially, if you know, deep down, that neither of you will really change and that you won’t be able to stop dwelling on the reasons behind the break up, then it might be time to think about moving on separately, rather than getting back together. However, that can often be easier said than done – for even if you know, rationally, that a relationship is not good for you, your emotions don’t always step into line.

EliteSingles’ resident psychologist, Salama Marine, acknowledges that moving on after a break up can be really tough. She says ”why do so many people turn back to their ex? Because they know that that person loved and valued them in the past, so it’s easier to go back to them instead of try to find someone new. Yet, doing this can be really painful and lower your self esteem which is the opposite of what you should be doing in the post-break up period. It is important to maintain self worth and if anything, try to boost your ego.”⁷

So how can you boost esteem while forgetting the pain of the break up? Salama advises ”Go out, meet your friends! Having fun will build your confidence and allow you to see that you are pleasing and interesting to others. You may even meet someone new who interests you! If you don’t feel ready to meet new people offline, you could join a dating site. This could be a good way to start believing in the possibility that there could be new romantic story in your life.”

She adds ”we cannot estimate how long it will take to fully get over your ex as it is different for everyone, but by giving yourself the tools to meet new people, you will finally meet the person you truly deserve.”

Are you ready to move on from your break up and start meeting singles who share your relationship goals? Try EliteSingles today.

EliteSingles editorial November 2016

Is it better to try getting back together or should you insist on moving on? Let us know! You can comment below or email us at [email protected]

About the author: Sophie Watson

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