When a long term relationship comes to an end, you go through an emotional rollercoaster. Whether you initiated it or not, things from this point on will be different to what you have been used to. 

Give yourself the time to adjust and think carefully about what you really want and need. What has worked for you and what hasen`t. 

Your wishes and expectations may have changed as well. You decide to emphasis on values you were either missing in your previous relationship OR appreciate the importance of having more of in your future one. 

Whether you are now missing the physical closeness or the companionship, go out and build up a new network of people who add value to your new lifestyle before you commit yourself into a new relationship. 

Get to know yourself better by re-discovering your desires and building up your self confidence with new experiences. 

Getting intimate with someone new can be daunting and have you worry about the connection you may have in comparison to the familiar chemistry you have been used to. 

Remember to stay true to yourself and your values. Be with someone whom you have built a level of trust and feel comfortable with. 

If dating someone doesn’t feel right, don`t wait, end it. 

Don’t feel pressured to get intimate with someone because you think they expect you to. 

Now, Men: 

After you have been together, whether she met your expectations or not, stay respectful. Contact her and thank he for the time you have spent together. 

Don`t vanish into thin air leaving her hurt. When a woman decides to get intimate with you, she is giving you a gift. One that she can not take back if she later realises that you have not appreciated it. She needs reassurance that she has done the right thing and that you will continue to respect her. 

The worst thing you can do is end the contact after you have spent a night together. 

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If you no longer wish to continue seeing her, do not make it about the sex. 

Women: 

After getting intimate, you feel the immediate (and constant) need to be reassured that nothing has changed. You feel more vulnerable and expect him to repeatingly confirm that you are still as wonderful to him, if not more. 

This is why it is important that you are confident in the decision of taking things to the next level. Whatever the outcome is, tell yourself that this was a learning experience. And you have done it because you wanted to. You are a wonderful woman no matter what.