According to the dictionary, a rebound can be defined as “A quick recovery from or reaction to disappointment or depression”. Newly single people who waste no time in jumping right back into the dating game are often said to be “on the rebound”. Exactly how much time between relationships is necessary in order for a new relationship to avoid being classified as a rebound is one question that comes up frequently and for which there does not seem to be an answer that the masses can agree upon.

Some people believe that any relationship following a painful break up or divorce qualifies as a rebound relationship regardless of how much time has passed between them. Others, like me, believe that the amount of time elapsed between relationships has little, if anything, to do with it and that rebound relationships are usually the products of excess emotional baggage and instability.

For singles that are truly on the rebound, it might be true that future dating experiences will be more troublesome than they likely would be for other singles that have made an effort to sort through emotional baggage and prepare to invest in a new relationship. Fortunately, however, there are things that can be done in order for a new couple to avoid becoming another rebound statistic.

The good news is that just about any relationship (rebound or not) can be made to flourish as long as the right ingredients are present. If you are involved in what you believe to be a rebound relationship but you want to help that improve the odds for that relationship to survive and thrive, there are two basic steps that you will need to take.

• Step 1: Nurture the connection - As long as the connection between you and your new partner is genuine, it is absolutely possible for a rebound relationship to work out and eventually develop into a lasting and successful partnership. The key is to work together in order to nurture that connection and help it to grow at a pace that both you and your partner are comfortable with.
  
  
• Step 2: Embrace communication - The best and most fulfilling romances are those in which the lines of communication between partners remains open and unclogged. Tell your partner how you are feeling at all times and encourage him/her to do the same. Be there to support each other through all of the emotional ups and downs that are a natural part of the healing process. Both partners should always be fully aware of the situation and should be willing and able to talk things through if and when issues begin to arise.