How to Make Your Ex Boyfriend Jealous

Co-authored by Michele Fields

Do you want to make your ex-boyfriend jealous so he misses you and regrets your breakup? In this article, we'll share some proven tips for making your ex jealous and explain how to use these tricks to get him back (if that's what you want).

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Developing Your New Life and Relationships

1
Make self-care your top priority. After a breakup, taking care of your physical and mental well-being can easily fall by the wayside. Make a commitment to take good care of yourself as your top priority. This will help you to feel better overall and it may even cause some jealousy in your ex to see you doing so well. Some ways you can take care of yourself include:^{[1]
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- Exercising regularly and eating well. If you want to lose weight, then you could even set a goal for yourself to drop 5 pounds over the next month as part of your self-care.
- Setting aside time to relax and enjoy your hobbies. Take long baths, read a book, play board games with friends, go hiking, or do whatever it is that you enjoy doing in your spare time.
- Giving yourself a mini-makeover. Buy a couple of new outfits, get your hair done, use teeth whitening strips, or try another strategy to improve your appearance. This will be a great confidence boost for you, and it will surprise your ex the next time they see you.^{[2]
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2
Take up a new hobby or learn a new skill. After a breakup is the perfect time to take up a new hobby or learn a new skill. You will have more free time on your hands, so use it for something that interests you. Look into hobbies that you can teach yourself, or take a class to learn something new in a social environment. The next time your ex sees you or checks your social media profiles, they will be amazed to hear about all the cool stuff you’re doing with your free time!^{[3]
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- For example, if you have always wanted to learn to speak French, download a language app or take a French class.
- If you’re a fan of gourmet cooking, buy a new cookbook with recipes to try or take a cooking class.
- If you love music, but don’t know how to play or sing, take private lessons or learn from videos online!
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3
Go on dates and start cultivating new romances. One of the most powerful ways to make your ex jealous is to demonstrate that you have moved on by actually moving on! Even if you still have feelings for your ex, go on some dates with other people. Your ex is sure to be a little jealous if they hear that you’re dating and you might even have a great time with someone new.^{[4]
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- Be careful not to brag about your new relationships to your ex. This will tip them off to your desire to make them jealous, which can have the opposite effect. Avoid talking to your ex about dating other people.
Tip: If your ex asks you if you’re dating other people, answer them honestly yet casually. Try saying something like, “Yeah, I’ve been on a few dates,” and then change the subject. This will send the message that you don’t really care what they think, but you are definitely dating other people.
4
Post pictures and positive updates on social media. You can use social media to your advantage and make your ex jealous while simply sharing how your life is going. If you take a vacation, post a photo album of your adventures. If you get a new haircut, post a selfie of yourself to show it off. Share status updates that reflect a positive outlook on your life.^{[5]
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- Avoid posting negative things on social media or going overboard and bragging about your life. Keep it real, but skew positive with your posts.
5
Make new friends by joining a club or attending a social gathering. Socializing is an important part of enjoying your life after a breakup. Try getting involved with a local club or attend other types of social gatherings in your area. This will give you opportunities to make new friends, learn new things, and maybe even make your ex jealous of your packed social schedule!^{[6]
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- For example, if you enjoy cycling, join a bike-riding group and go on weekly rides with them.
- If you love to learn about history, join your local Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) chapter.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Interacting with Your Ex

1
Take your time before seeing your ex again. While you may be tempted to run out and “accidentally” bump into your ex to try to make them jealous of your fabulous new life, hold on! It’s best to wait for at least a few months to have any contact with your ex at all. Make sure you are done grieving the breakup and you are completely over them before you see them again.^{[7]
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- The amount of time it might take you to get over your ex can vary depending on how long you were together and how serious your relationship was. It might take a few weeks, months, or longer before you feel ready. Until then, go out of your way to avoid them.
2
Wait a while to text them back if they text you.You definitely should not text your ex since this might send the message that you want them back or possibly even that you’re desperate. However, if they text you, then you can text them back. Just make sure that you wait for longer than you normally would to reply to their text.
- For example, if your ex texts you and you would normally reply within 5 minutes, wait for an hour or more to reply. This will make them jealous by sending the message that you are too busy to sit around texting them.
- If you really want to send the message that you couldn’t care less, then don’t respond at all. If you like, send a text a few days later and say something like, “Sorry! I was on a date when you texted me and then I forgot to reply. Hope you’re doing well!”
3
Be polite to your ex if you bump into them. If you do happen to bump into your ex, focus all of your energy on being polite. If you seem genuinely pleasant and happy, this is more likely to make your ex feel jealous than if you snub them or say something rude to them. Resist the urge to tell them exactly what you think of them.^{[8]
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- You don’t need to have a long conversation to be polite. If you pass your ex on the street, a simple smile and quick eye contact might be enough.
- If your ex approaches you to talk, try saying something like, “Hi, Josh! It’s nice to see you. How have you been?”
Not ready to chat with your ex? You can politely duck out of a conversation by saying something like, “It’s so great to see you! I wish we had time to catch up, but I am running late. Maybe we can get together for coffee sometime.”
4
Let your ex know that you’d like to be friends at some point. If you do feel ready to start talking with your ex or possibly even be their friend, let them know that. Seeing you have moved on enough to invite a friendship might even make them feel a bit jealous. Just be casual and avoid putting pressure on them when you bring up the idea of being friends.^{[9]
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- Try saying something like, “Hey, if it’s okay with you, I was hoping we could be friends again. I know the romantic part of our relationship is over, but I miss our friendship.”
5
Compliment your ex on their new relationship. If your ex has moved on and tells you about it, don’t make rude comments about the person or show any sign of annoyance. Say something pleasant and kind to them to congratulate them on their happiness. This is more likely to make your ex jealous than saying something rude.^{[10]
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- For example, you could say, “I’m so happy for you! She seems like a really sweet and fun person.”
- If you can’t bring yourself to say something nice about the person, don’t say anything at all. Try changing the subject instead, such as by saying, “That’s awesome! Oh man, did you see the game last night? I was thinking about you when they won! You must have been so psyched!”

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Seeking Help for Emotional Struggles

1
Spend time with friends and family members who love and support you. Don’t try to get through a breakup on your own. It’s not easy to do! Lean on people who care about you and who will listen to you when you need to talk.^{[11]
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- For example, try calling up your best friend, sister, or a parent if you need to talk, or arrange a weekly coffee date with a few of your friends or family members to ensure that you have at least 1 weekly social outing.
2
Find a support group of people who know what you’re going through. After a long-term relationship, you might feel like no one understands what you’re going through. If this is the case, finding a support group for people who have recently gone through a divorce or breakup can be a great way to feel validated and get some of your emotions out.^{[12]
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- Ask a therapist if they know of any support groups, or look into online forums if there are no groups in your area.
Tip: Remember that what your ex thinks doesn’t matter anymore! Try to focus on yourself and what you want to do with your life rather than becoming consumed by making your ex jealous.
3
Seek help from your doctor or therapist if you are struggling. Breakups can be hard, so make sure to reach out if you are having a hard time with your emotions. Talk to your doctor or therapist for help. They may recommend antidepressants, talk-therapy, or a combination of the 2 to help you get back on track and feeling like yourself again.^{[13]
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- Meeting with a therapist can be especially helpful for moving on after a breakup. You can evaluate what happened in the relationship and find ways to learn and grow from the experience.