How to Stay Friends with Your Ex

Break ups are hard, but losing the friendship of your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend is what makes it so difficult. The reason behind the break up determines whether you will remain friends with your ex or not. It’s easier to continue being friends with your ex if you had a solid friendship before you started dating. The following tips will help you establish a platonic relationship with your ex.

Be Certain about the Platonic Relationship

If you want to start a friendship with your ex hoping that you will get back together, you are not ready to be friends. If you are not ready to be platonic, then you may be heartbroken when you find out he is seeing someone else.

Don’t Bring up Past Issues

Leave your past in the past and focus on your new friendship and the future. Bringing up past issues could be a sign that you have not totally moved on.

Take Time to Heal

Give yourself time to heal and get over the breakup. If you have a lot of bitterness towards your ex, becoming friends immediately after the breakup would be too soon. Get rid of all the things that remind you of him or her and avoid going to places that remind you of your ex.

Be Nice to the Other Person

Although this may be tough, being pleasant to your ex’s girlfriend or boyfriend is a sign of maturity and it shows that you have moved on. You may even be surprised that your ex will like the idea of friendship between you and his new partner. Do not interfere with his or her new relationship; avoid confrontations with their new partners and try to get along with them.

Do not Sleep Together

Having sex with an ex makes it difficult for you to be just friends because it tends to blur the line between a romantic relationship and friendship. If you value your friendship, do not sleep together and keep your boundaries clear.

Keep the Relationship Friendly

Avoid spending most of the time together or visiting places that are likely to bring back old memories. This could bring back old feelings which may be difficult to deal with, making your friendship complicated.

Avoid the Blame Game

It’s very easy to put the blame on the person rather than on the relationship. Most people who blame their ex-partners for the breakup have a hard time moving on and end up in court with divorce lawyers and family law issues. If you want to remain friends with your ex, blame the things that happened in the relationship and not him or her.

If either you or your ex is starting to get attached, then you need to keep your distance. This could be a sign that you have not completely moved on and you need to give each other time. You can consider dating someone new before you become friends with your ex.