Most people need a month or two to process the breakup, to mourn, and to integrate lessons before jumping back in if they were in a fairly serious relationship, she says. If you dated someone for a year or more, you may need three to four months.

How long after a breakup is it acceptable to date?

“Most people probably wait at least a month if they had a relationship that was at least a few months long,” Sherman told INSIDER. “If it was a more significant relationship then they may take longer, like three months or more to start dating again.”