Breakups are painful enough as it is, now with social media we have the ability to rub salt in the wound of missing somebody. Many of us fall into the toxic cycle of remaining attached to our exes through social media. Whether you’re using your accounts to check their Facebook/Instagram/Twitter daily, make posts that prove ‘just how great your life is now’, or use their location settings to “accidentally” bump into them – this is your intervention. Here are 5 reasons why you need to block your ex right now –

1. You are amazing

Yes, we know that is cliché, but you are amazing. If the relationship has ended that means they were unable to appreciate how incredible you are. Remaining attached after a relationship has ended can lead us down a dark spiral of self-doubt and self-loathing. Cutting all ties (i.e. blocking your ex) and reminding yourself of how phenomenal you are not only prevents these insecurities, but allows you to focus on what you deserve (which is way more than what your ex could have given you).

2. They can stalk you too

Of course, sometimes that is the point. Why post all those selfies and faux-happy life updates if they’re not looking? Or perhaps, you simply don’t care that they’re looking into your life. Unfortunately that is a double edged sword. If you’re posting in the hopes of hurting them, or making them jealous – you are still allowing them to occupy your thoughts and actions rather than separating them from your life in an attempt to get over them. On the other hand, if you’re simply indifferent to what they know about your life, you may be unintentionally causing them grief. Either way, you need to block them.

3. Rip off the Band-Aid

Another cliché rhetoric, we know. But this concept will always prove to be true. Completely cutting all ties may hurt more for a brief period of time, but it speeds up the process. It allows you the time and space to focus on yourself and heal without reopening the wounds of what could have been. Rip off that band-aid and hit that block button, no-one wants to see their exes face of their timeline every day.

4. No temptation

We’ve all had this thought at one time or another. “I’ll just like one picture” or “one message couldn’t hurt”. Seeing their name pop up daily will inevitably lead to these thoughts, and the temptation to interact will become unbearable. But you’re supposed to be giving yourself space to heal, remember? Just hit block.

5. You just need to do it

Nike was right, you just need to do it. There’s no need to create reasons to push yourself to be content without them. Yes, there are times when you are capable of fostering amazing friendships with exes. However, if you’re keeping them around for all the wrong reasons it is perfectly fine to cut them out of your life and focus on your own happiness.