hangover, you have certainly experienced alcohol, but also separation. It’s these feelings that are triggered after a breakup and can last from a few moments to a few years, all depending on how much you invested in the relationship. Of course, like any annoying hangover, the breakup hangover passes.

From the initial denial and the rush of emotions and the dramatic cry of “I’m never dating again” that comes free with a breakup to the next date can take years, months, days, and even hours. There is no timetable. There are only telltale signs that you are, in fact, ready to start dating again after a breakup.

You have fully accepted the breakup

There are many stages to a breakup, but arguably the most important is acceptance. At this stage, you no longer dwell on the past, you are no longer upset with your ex or yourself for what could have gone differently, and you accept the reality that your relationship is over. With this mindset, you can look to the future. If you still haven’t come to terms with your breakup, you may resent your ex or want them back, and you can’t start a new relationship with those feelings still creeping into your life.

You don’t think about your ex as often anymore

In the trenches of a breakup, every little thing can remind you of your ex: songs, restaurants, movies, smells, foods, and more, making it hard to escape the memory of your relationship (both the good and bad parts). But with time all this fades away. This is a good sign that you are no longer preoccupied with thinking about him and are making room for new things (people, experiences, memories, etc.) to come.

You are confident in your ability to be independent

Adjusting to life as a party of one after being a party of two for a while is very unnatural at first—especially if you’ve been together for a long time and/or lived together—but once you start experiencing independence and enjoying time with yourself, everything changes. You stop wishing someone was still around you all the time, you start embracing all the things you can do without question, and you no longer feel the need to be in a relationship. Once you release the need to have someone by your side, you are in a much better place to start a new relationship.

The idea of ​​your ex dating other people doesn’t bother you

When a breakup is fresh, the last thing anyone wants to do is photograph (or God forbid, see) their ex with someone else. It’s heartbreaking, awkward, and just plain weird, regardless of whether the relationship was short or long-term. However, there comes a point where it wouldn’t be such a big deal to hear about your ex. You might not necessarily want to see them out, but if you did, you’d be okay with it and even happy for them.

You feel excited to be dating again

If you’re still in that “this is so terrible, I’m never doing that again” fog after the breakup, you’re not ready to start dating again. But fear not, sooner or later the idea of ​​meeting someone new and going on a date is actually…exciting?! Dating can be really fun, and the chances of a new relationship will begin to overshadow a sense of giddy anticipation. This is one of the easiest ways to say you’re ready to start dating after a breakup.

You know what you want from your next relationship

It’s common to miss the happy parts of your relationship after a breakup, but it’s just as important to remember what you didn’t love as much because these two things together teach you what you want and definitely don’t want from a next relationship. These realizations are vital in laying the foundation for your next relationship.