Forgetting someone you loved deeply is one of the hardest emotional battles.
You don’t just lose a person, you lose a routine, a comfort, a future you pictured, and a version of yourself that existed with them.

You wake up thinking about them.
You go to sleep imagining conversations.
You replay memories.
You scroll their profile.
You feel the emptiness in moments you used to share.

And even when you try to forget, your mind keeps pulling you back.

Here’s the truth:
You don’t forget someone overnight. But you can slowly detach in a way that finally gives you your life back.

Here is how you do it realistically, not magically.

1. Accept That Healing Isn’t Instant

The biggest reason people struggle to forget someone is that they want a fast, clean escape from pain.

But heartbreak doesn’t work like a switch.
You don’t heal by forcing yourself to forget.
You heal by giving yourself time, compassion, and emotional space.

Let yourself feel the sadness.
Let yourself process the loss.
Let yourself be human.

Healing is not weakness, it’s recovery.

2. Stop Checking Their Social Media (This Is Crucial)

Every time you check their:

• posts
• stories
• online status
• new followers
• captions

…you reopen the wound.

Social media makes forgetting impossible because it gives you a live window into a world you’re trying to move on from.

Block if needed. Mute if blocking feels too harsh.
But protect your peace first.

3. Remove the Triggers That Keep Reminding You

Delete:

• old photos
• saved chats
• voice notes
• screenshots
• special videos

Don’t keep emotional explosives in your phone.

You’re not being dramatic, you’re making space to breathe.

4. Stop Romanticising the Past

When we miss someone, we only remember:

• the good moments
• the compliments
• the comfort
• the laughs
• the “but we were so perfect” illusion

Forgetting becomes harder when you rewrite the relationship as something it never fully was.

Be honest:

• There were problems.
• There were imbalances.
• Some things hurt you.
• There was a reason it didn’t work.

Don’t fall in love with your memory of them.

5. Don’t Try to Stay “Friends” Immediately

Staying friends too soon is emotional torture.

You can’t heal from someone while still:

• depending on them
• talking daily
• hoping they’ll come back
• watching them move on
• being their emotional support

Distance isn’t coldness, it’s survival.

6. Fill Your Empty Space With New Routines

When someone leaves, they leave behind empty spaces in your day.
If you don’t replace those routines, your mind automatically wanders back to them.

Replace:

• night calls with meditation
• morning messages with journaling
• date nights with hobbies
• dependency with self-growth

Healing happens when you stop basing your day on someone who’s no longer part of it.

7. Stop Creating “What If” Stories

“What if we tried again?”
“What if things were different?”
“What if they come back?”
“What if I was the problem?”

These thoughts trap you in a loop.

You can’t change the past.
You can only shape your future, and you can’t do that while living in alternate versions of reality.

8. Talk to Someone You Trust

Healing becomes easier when you express your thoughts.

Share with:

• a friend
• a sibling
• a therapist
• someone who understands heartbreak

Sometimes the heaviness reduces simply by speaking about it.

9. Work on Yourself Instead of Waiting for Them to Return

The best revenge, the best closure, the best healing is becoming a stronger, happier version of yourself.

Focus on:

• fitness
• career
• new hobbies
• self-love routines
• building your confidence

Don’t let the breakup shrink who you are.
Let it expand you.

10. Accept That Closure Won’t Come From Them

You may never get:

• a proper explanation
• The apology you deserved
• the conversation you wanted
• the answers to your “why”

And that’s okay.

Closure doesn’t come from the person who hurt you.
It comes from understanding this:

You deserve someone who chooses you fully. Not halfway. Not part-time. Not temporarily.

11. Remind Yourself Why You Need to Let Go

You’re not forgetting them because you didn’t love them.
You’re forgetting them because:

• Your mental health matters
• Love shouldn’t hurt daily
• They’re not fighting for you
• Holding on is damaging you
• You deserve peace
• You deserve reciprocation

Letting go is not rejection.
It’s self-respect.

12. Trust That Someone Better Is Waiting for You

The person you’re struggling to forget today will one day be a memory that doesn’t hurt.

Life eventually places the right people in front of you, people who stay, who try, and who love without confusion.

Your future self will thank you for letting go.

Final Thoughts

Forgetting someone you still love is painful, but it’s possible.
And more importantly, it’s necessary for your emotional freedom.

You don’t forget them suddenly.
You forget them slowly, by choosing yourself a little more every day.

Healing doesn’t start when you stop loving them.
Healing starts when you start loving yourself again.

You will move on.
You will feel lighter.
You will find happiness again.

One day you’ll look back and think:
“It hurt, but it taught me so much about who I am and what I deserve.”

FAQs

1. How long does it take to forget someone?

There’s no fixed timeline. It depends on emotional attachment, memories, and personal healing pace.

2. Is it normal to still think about them every day?

Yes. Your brain is detaching from a habit, not just a person.

3. Should I stay connected with them while trying to forget?

No. Distance is essential for emotional recovery.

4. What if I can’t stop going back to them?

You’re emotionally attached, not weak. Awareness is the first step to breaking the cycle.

5. Will I ever truly move on?

Absolutely. You won’t forget them overnight, but one day they’ll stop being the first thought of your day.