Use your phone's settings to help you avoid contact with your ex. For example, you can change your ex's name in your address book to "DO NOT ANSWER" to remind you what you must do. Some phones or services will also allow you to block a particular number entirely. If you must talk to your ex, keep the communication brief but friendly. Never flirt, however tempting it may seem. If you start to repeat old arguments or bad patterns, end the conversation immediately: say, "I'm sorry, this conversation isn't going well. I need to end it." Working together closely in class, being assigned to the same project, or getting put at the same work table could derail your effort to avoid your ex. You may need to ask others at school or work for help to avoid these situations. For example, you might explain to a teacher that you would prefer not to do a group project with your ex. Or, you could ask your guidance counselor for help in arranging your schedule so that you are not in class with your ex. If you don't run into your ex, you won't accidentally start speaking with him. And you won't see him flirting with someone else, either. If you are in school together, use your knowledge of his schedule to avoid crossing paths in the hallway or by the lockers. Avoid visiting his workplace. For example, if he works for a cafe, get your hot drinks somewhere else now. Don't go to his favorite hangouts or to his events. If your ex plays basketball, don't go to those games. If he always took you bowling, don't go bowling for a while. Don't keep socializing with your ex just because you have mutual friends. Respect that your friends might want to remain friends with both of you. While it can be tempting to try to convince everyone to side with you, it's not healthy. It may be helpful to talk through different scenarios with your friends. For example, you might say: "I don't feel comfortable continuing our movie nights as a small group right now. But, if you throw a big party, it's ok to invite both of us." Recognize that your needs will change over time. Keep your friends up to date: if it's ok to invite you both to a dinner party now, say so. Leave his friends to him. Just as you need the support of your friends and family as you navigate the break-up, so does your ex. Let your ex rely on his own network of friends and family.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Don't call or text. Keep any contact short and sweet. Ask teachers, bosses, or coworkers for help in limiting your exposure to your ex. Plan your schedule to avoid awkward encounters. Keep in contact with mutual friends, but make your boundaries clear.

Q: Don't leave your search for love strictly up to fate; you can't expect to come across the perfect woman from a random visit to the grocery store or even while buying a drink at the bar. Search in a variety of places by taking a class that interests you, joining a club, attending church, visiting online dating websites or even accepting blind dates. Don't put all your eggs in one basket, either. While you might take an art class or attend a new church, that doesn't mean you shouldn't also test the waters of online dating or a variety of other opportunities available to meet new women. While you should maximize your opportunities of meeting new women, don't waste your time meeting them in places that are of no interest to you. If you aren't religious, you may not want to meet women at a church, and if drinking is a deal breaker for you, you probably don't want to look for a potential partner at a bar. Likewise, visit places that are of interest to you. Are you a sci-fi geek? Why not meet women at a book store or a Star Wars convention? Or perhaps you are a lover of the arts. How about seeking a potential mate in an art class or at a museum? If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Just because you didn't meet your ideal women on one online dating website, blind date or dance class, that doesn't mean she won't be waiting for you at the next one. Don't give up on one way of meeting women just because it wasn't successful the first time or two. The world is full of people, and finding the right partner is very much a numbers game in which you'll often meet a lot of Ms. Wrongs before you find Ms. Right.
A: Maximize your opportunities. Search in the right places. Demonstrate tenacity.

Article: Ask a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor to keep an eye out on your home while you're away. It is absolutely essential that you trust this person and know that they will follow through with checking in. A next door neighbor is a convenient person to monitor your home since they are the most likely person to notice any unusual situations. Do not sacrifice convenience for trust. If you do not feel completely comfortable asking your next door neighbor to check on your home, ask a close friend or family member. Remember to return the favor and offer to do the same for them when they are on vacation. Overgrown lawns or driveways full of snow are surefire giveaways that the homeowner isn't at home. Be mindful of your friend's time and offer compensation for these chores. For example, if the neighbor that you've asked to keep an eye on things has a teenage son or daughter, offer to pay their child to complete these tasks. Always return the favor and offer to do the same when they go away on vacation. Interior lights signal that someone is at home but leaving your lights on all the time while you are away is not cost effective. A programmable light switch will turn on select lights at a certain time and then turn them off. This saves money, is energy efficient, and is a useful deterrent. An intruder who is watching your home closely may notice that the lights go on and off at certain times every day. Set a schedule for your timers that varies day by day. Never post on social media that you are leaving for a vacation. Avoid posting pictures from your vacation while you are still away, checking in at the airport or your vacation destination, or updating your friends about your vacation. Internet safety is extremely important. Many burglars learn about their potential victims through social media when they post that they will be away, how long they'll be away, and where they're going. Notify the post office that you will be away so they do not leave mail and packages at your door. You can also ask your neighbor to collect your mail for you if you prefer not to stop your mail altogether. Avoid scheduling deliveries, like those for online shopping, for times when you are away. Packages that are left outside your front door are easily stolen and alert others that you are out of town. This applies to your curtains, your blinds, or shutters that cover your windows. If you typically leave your blinds open during the day, consider leaving them open when you are away. Noticeable changes can alert others that you aren't home, like if your curtains are pulled shut for two weeks straight when they are normally open.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Ask a friend to monitor your home. Ask a friend to maintain your yard. Install programmable light switches. Do not post online. Stop your mail. Leave window coverings the same.