What’s the right thing to do when you want to win back your girlfriend? Is there a specific plan of action you can follow to make it happen? Clearly there are no guarantees when it comes to repairing a relationship after a breakup, but when it comes to winning back a girlfriend it’s as much about avoiding the wrong things as it is about doing the right things.

So what are the wrong things: the things that seem right on the surface, but only end up pushing your girlfriend further away? Here are 7 critical “no-no’s” that will ruin any chance you have to win back your girlfriend if you let them happen.

1.) Making Contact Too Soon After A Breakup

After a breakup, you should follow a strict “no contact” rule. No emails. No texts. No phone calls. Doing this sets up the entire plan to get your ex to miss you and want you back.

2.) Begging For Another Chance

If you crawl to your girlfriend and beg on your hands and knees for her to take you back, then she’ll only see you as weak and needy. You’ll become a big turn-off.

3.) Playing The Guilt Card

Avoid the temptation to make yourself feel better by playing the guilt card. If you put your ex down, try to make things her fault, or attempt to tell her she’s wrong by breaking up with you, then you’ll erect a wall between the two of you that will be extremely difficult to tear down.

4.) Trying To Force Your Way Back Into The Relationship

You may make the mistake of trying to force your way back into the relationship. For example, you might try to catch her at work or at her home to get her to talk to you. Similarly, you might repeatedly send texts or leave voice messages begging her to call you. Trying to force the issue makes you look desperate. Don’t do it.

5.) Letting Her See You Depressed And Miserable

If you want to be depressed and miserable over the breakup, then do it alone in your own house or apartment. Don’t get emotional around your ex girlfriend or let her see how much you miss her and how miserable you are without her. To get her back, she needs to feel like you’re capable of moving on and forgetting all about her.

6.) Reliving The Past

The past is the past. Leave it alone. If you keep bringing up past mistakes and events, then you’re only setting yourself up for failure.

7.) Excessive Apologizing

If you want to win back your girlfriend, avoid repeated apologies. If you did something wrong, apologize once, accept it, and move on.

Even if you opt to try and text your ex back after a breakup, the same rules still apply regardless of how you choose to communicate with your ex. By avoiding the 7 things above, you give yourself the best chance to win back your girlfriend.