If your boyfriend says he wants to take a break from the relationship, it's probably safe to say that he's having doubts and is considering ending it. If you notice the warning signs, meaning that he's distant or detached, you may be headed for a break.

So where do you begin when he says he wants to take a break? Do you start dating other people, or do you simply wait for him to decide if he wants to continue the relationship?

You saw it coming. You asked him why he was so quiet and distant. You did your best to be affectionate, showering him with kisses and kind words. You did everything you could to keep the relationship going, but suddenly he utters those words you want so desperately not to hear.

I think we should take a break.

Your life

While your boyfriend decided to put your relationship on hold, this is not time for you to put your life on hold. In fact, this time is actually a great opportunity for you to rediscover the activities you enjoyed as a singleton. Get to know yourself and enjoy the world. Chances are you didn't have much time to do this while you were in the relationship.

Exploring your options

A lot of people see a relationship break as an opportunity to build intimate relationships with multiple individuals. They may even be tempted to start dating someone else. But you need to be fair to your boyfriend as well as yourself. Right now might not be the best time to jump into your next relationship, as this can cause hard feelings between you and your current boyfriend, should you decide to get back together.

What would happen if a new relationship resulted in an unplanned pregnancy? This could ruin your relationship with your original boyfriend. Not to mention that you may not know who the father is.

However, this is the time to reconnect with old friends. Get together for a social outing. Share stories about your break, and plan fun activities. The key here is to keep yourself as busy as possible. Your boyfriend may see this and begin to wonder what you are doing. This may actually peak his interest once again and make him return to you.