5 Ways Single Christians Can Productively Utilize Their Time after a Break-Up

Being involved in Bible Reading and prayer will help single Christians in many ways. For one, it will keep our minds off whatever we are going through, and for another, it will equip our minds and hearts with God’s truth. When we feel we are in our darkest valley, daily Bible reading and prayer can lift us out of our miry depths. God is beside us in our struggles, and He can give us the peace that only He can provide (John 14:27).

Pray before you start your Bible reading and throughout the day. The Apostle Paul tells us that we should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Praying without ceasing means that we keep God at the front of our minds throughout the day. Whether we are having a good day filled with joy or a day filled with sorrow, we can still offer prayers to God throughout the day.

The more we study the Bible and talk with God in prayer, the better we will feel. We will also be productively using our time and growing in our walk with Him. If we consistently study the Bible and pray, we might notice our perspective on life will change. The things that once bothered us, such as being single, going through a divorce, or facing the end of a relationship, won't affect us as much anymore. Instead of loss, we will feel hope.

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Once we start reading the Bible and praying more, we will start to see our relationship with God blossom. However, deepening our relationship with God goes further than reading the Bible and praying. We can deepen our relationship with God by applying what He teaches us in the Bible. Jesus tells us, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).

It is not enough to only read the Word but not do what it says. This is what the half-brother of the Lord tells us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). We would be wise to retain what God has taught us and this means to live out our devotion to Him in our actions, words, and behaviors. It pleases God to see us following Him and truly obeying His teachings.

The more we deepen our relationship with God, the more we will begin to notice that our hearts will heal. Piece by piece, God will restore our broken heart (Psalm 34:18). There might be days when we still struggle, but God will cover us with His grace. He knows the pain we are experiencing, and He will continue to help us use our time wisely and productively. Because in truth, when we use our time wisely by investing in our relationship with Him, we will be the happiest.

No human being can bring our hearts happiness like God can. His love for us has no bounds (Romans 8:37-39). He is always with us and forever protects us (Psalm 91:1-16). Even if a person loves us, they cannot love us the same way God can, nor can they be with us at all hours of the day and night. However, God is always watching over us, and His love for us doesn't change (Psalm 121:5-8).

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Sometimes, our friends can help us in ways that others cannot. Maybe you are not super close with your family, or they live far away. If either of these things is true, try reaching out to a few friends. These can be your close friends or a group you only meet with occasionally. The goal is to spend more time with others and build friendships to keep your mind healthy.

If you want to talk about your breakup with your friends, you can, but know that you don't have to. It could be a subject that's too sensitive, and you need space. This is okay, and you don't have to share any information you don't want to. Your friends are there to help you and to build you up. This might mean not talking about your breakup at all and instead choosing to go do a fun activity together.

There are friends who stick closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). Choose to invest in some time with your friends and see how it changes your perspective on life. Your friends are just a call or text away. Try to meet up with one or a few this week. Go for a walk, go for a girls’ night, or hang out at one another’s apartment to watch a movie.

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Family members are also significant points of contact after going through a break-up. Refrain from isolating yourself and reach out to your family. Talk with your siblings, your parents, or your cousins. Even the family dog or cat could be a great source of support. As I stated above, don’t feel you have to talk with your family about the break-up if you don’t want to. You can wait and assess how you feel later.

By spending time with your family, you will be using your time productively. Building your relationship with your family and investing in their lives will help your mental health and happiness as well as your family’s. Regardless of age, connect with your family and start doing more things together. If your sister plans a hike up Mount Kilimanjaro, ask if you can train with her and complete the hike.

In the same way, if your brother just started his restaurant, ask him to help teach you a few recipes and offer to help around the restaurant. You can do so many things with your family and productively utilize your time. Your family will also be the best people to help you know your worth is found in Christ alone, not in a relationship. Continue to cultivate your life by using your time productively for the Lord, others, and your well-being.

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Hobbies are great to get into after breakups as they help us put our energy into other things. Rather than allowing anger or sadness to swell up inside us, we can let go of these feelings by exerting energy elsewhere. If you are angry after a breakup, try opting for a sport. This could mean joining a running group, a kickboxing group, or a soccer group.

Doing a high-intensity exercise can relax much of the anger you are experiencing. Rather than continuing to allow the anger to build, sign up for one of these hobby classes this week. Check out your local recreational centers or social media hobby group class page to get started. If you cannot find any of these ways, ask a friend if they know of any groups you can join.

If your break-up has caused you to experience much sorrow and depression, a better hobby group to look into could be a book club, an art class, or a pottery class. Any of these clubs or classes could be great ways to get more interested in the emotional side of yourself. Art is a natural outpouring of our emotions; therefore, don't be ashamed of letting them out through your paint brushes, writing pen, or clay. If hobby classes or craft courses are not your thing, you could also do a craft or work on a piece of art at home.

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