That’s it! You tell your friends. You’re done with Mr Not So Right. Whether you dated for five minutes or five years, it’s over and you don’t want to hear their name, see their picture or any other reminder ever again. It’s time for a dating detox. But how far should you go?

Step 1 – The Virtual Cleanse

Do you want to see every girl he friends on Facebook, be forced to endure the change of her relationship status to “single” or ponder over suggestive wall postings from total strangers? No ma’am. That’s why you need to de-friend your now ex-friend. Do it now before you are overcome by the urge to Facebook stalk every member of the opposite sex on their friends list. This rule also applies for Twitter, MySpace and any other online platforms the pair of you have corresponded via.

Step 2 –  Delete delete delete

You’re going to thank me for this one when you wake up with a splitting hangover after your consolatory night out with your pals. Delete your ex’s phone number. Delete all of your recent call history. Delete all sent and received text messages. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, memorise or write the number down. This will only result in excruciatingly embarrassing late night communications you will later wish you never instigated. Take it from someone who’s been there. Delete delete delete. The added bonus here is the pleasure you will get when your ex does text and you have no idea who the number belongs to. There is no more satisfying a text than the old chestnut, “Sorry, but who is this?”

Step 3 – Avoid

Stay away from his favourite pub. Avoid her local coffee shop. Fight the urge to drive past your ex’s house or go to see his friend’s band playing. This is dating detox, remember? In order to clean out your system, you need to stay away from these toxins.

Step 4 –  Such junk

You know the movie ticket stub from your Hot Tub Time Machine date that was more like Hot Make Out In the Back Row? It’s gotta go. The hideous stuffed toy he gave you on your one month anniversary – gone as well. Anything that even remotely reminds you of your past love affair needs to be adios-ed asap. They do it in movies. Get a box and fill it with his or her stuff. Then burn it. Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme.

So now you’re done taking out the trash. It’s time to recollect your thoughts and focus on yourself for a little while. If your ego copped a bashing, build up your confidence to get back out there. And when you do, be glad we had this talk. No one wants to explain to their new love interest why they have tattered U2 concert tickets and a love post-it note from their ex stuck to their fridge. It’s a total mood killer.

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