What can I do to prevent this breaking and how can I fix it?

Higher quality, braided cables, if it's an option.

You could also try shrink tubing around the damage prone areas. Specifically shrink tubing that has the glue lining, that bonds when heated.

The cable is attached to the headphoes so the first isnt an option, Will the shrink tubes prevent the cable from rotating?
- Not if you just apply it to the broken area, up to the 90 deg angle of the cord.
  
  I admit though, I'm not sure the best way to address the wires that are already so exposed. Because I'd imagine there's currently risk of shorting.

If the electrical connections are still intact, you can use some glue or tape to stabilize it, to prevent it from breaking further.

To prevent it in the future: always pull cables out by the plug, never pull on the cable itself.

Glue on the wires? Yes they still make contact
- Also, an extension cable might help, depending on what is causing the wear. Not sure it applies in your case though (at first I thought it was a headphone cable plugged into a laptop, but looking closer it's looking more like a phone).
  
  Bluetooth might be another option, if it's in your budget. I'm loving my Bluetooth bone conduction headphones.
- For example, a big glob of hot glue in and around the affected area.
  
  Glue will insulate and help mitigate more breakage.
  
  I usually just use good electrical tape. Sometimes I splint broken cables with a couple plastic floss sticks, too.

Wrap it tightly in electrical tape.

Tape, the good kind

Seems like a good opportunity to learn soldering.

Can not recommended, those headphone wires are clear coated for insulation, you'd need to burn that off before you'd be able to solder that.
- Nothing a quick pass with a lighter can't fix.
- Are you sure? They're separated by the outer insulation, they wouldn't need any clear coating unless it was some weird cost-cutting measure.
Well the wires are still making contact so no need. I do have some old headphones where the wire is literally broken so there im gonna do it

If those are headphones... Either use wireless ones or ones with detachable cables and replace them every year or so. When I used cabled headphones / headsets they all eventually broke at the cables. Either like those at the contact points from simply hanging off of their own weight or because the cable's plastic dried & cracked. I just went went wireless at some point at didn't look back, because I was just so sick and tired of it.