Can you still be friends with your ex?
You loved each other, and you spent tons of time together, but unfortunately, the relationship didn’t work out and you broke up. Is it possible to still be friends with your ex? Some people say that once the relationship ends, so does the friendship, but there are many cases where that isn’t true. Here are some tips on how to maintain or rekindle a friendship with your ex.
Being Friends After Breakup Doesn’t Necessarily Mean You Haven’t Moved On
It’s a sad but true fact: Some relationships just don’t last. It can sting, but it doesn’t mean that you and your ex-partner have to stop being around each other entirely. In fact, there is no guarantee that either of you will move on from your shared past. So why not keep in touch for old times’ sake? After all, some friendships are worth holding onto. With healthy boundaries in place, you might find yourself able to reconnect without creating unnecessary drama or working through unresolved issues. But what should those boundaries look like exactly? We break down how to tell if you and your ex should be friends, how long to wait before reaching out again (or whether it's even wise), and when it's best to simply let go.
3 Ways To Keep It Healthy
If you’re setting out to keep it healthy and stay close, there are a few things you should do and a few things you shouldn’t do. First of all, make sure to cut out any malicious criticism or accusations. Just because they’re no longer in your life romantically doesn’t mean they should suffer from your continued anger. And remember: two wrongs don’t make a right. If anything, vindictive relationships just result in more hurt for everyone involved. Be mindful of each other, but try not to linger on what has already happened; instead, focus on moving forward. There’s no reason why love can’t exist after heartbreak—all it takes is some mutual respect and consideration.
Being Friends After Breakup Shouldn’t Be Painful
Breaking up is never easy. But if you were once close, it can feel even more painful to end a relationship. When you’ve loved and lost, how do you go from I love you to It’s over!? And what about your friendship now that it doesn’t include romance? There are plenty of pitfalls when trying to maintain a friendship with your ex — but they don’t have to cost you your friendships. Here are six tips for handling your new role as just friends with grace.
The Post-breakup Routine: You and your ex might not agree on many things, but you both need closure before calling it quits for good.
It's Okay To Feel Weird About This
When we break up, our lives change. Friendships shift, love lives take new directions and at times, it can be hard to adjust to these changes. If you're feeling confused about how your relationship is now that it's over, understand that those emotions are normal. You'll never go back to being exactly who you were before your relationship ended—and that's okay. But it doesn't mean you have to write off your ex completely either. Just because something ends doesn't mean you need to cut all ties with someone; relationships evolve and people change, so why should friendships always stay stagnant? Give yourself time to process your breakup and then assess if remaining friends makes sense for both of you. If he or she has remained a good friend in general, perhaps there’s no harm in continuing on as such after a breakup.
Stop The Rebound Cycle
When you’re trying to heal from a breakup, it can be tempting to jump into a new relationship as soon as possible. This happens because, when you feel sad or lonely, it’s much easier to become infatuated with someone new than it is to acknowledge and work through your feelings of loss. While rebound relationships may seem like an easy fix at first—and hey, we’ve all been there—you really need time and space before you can fully heal from a breakup.
5 Reasons Why You Should Be Friends With Your Ex
You may have heard that you should never be friends with your exes, but that’s just not true! There are actually several good reasons why it’s healthy to keep up with the people you used to date, including the following five reasons why you should be friends with your exes. Take a look and see which of these reasons speak to you, and why you should be friends with your ex after all!
For business reasons
If you’re both in a similar industry, it might make sense to have a cordial relationship. You never know when you might have to call on them for work purposes or if they could be an asset in your future business plans. Sometimes, exes can come back around as allies—and that makes for great networking. Plus, building up a rapport with someone outside of social circles will give you access to new opportunities and interesting connections.
For platonic reasons
Friendship is a relationship of mutual understanding, affection and trust. It’s important to find friendship outside your significant other. When you have that special someone in your life, it can be difficult to find time for other friendships. But building new bonds with old friends will create a foundation of trust and support for you when things get rough or busy in your romantic relationship. Who doesn’t want a healthy, supportive network surrounding them during every stage of their lives?
For nostalgic reasons
Whether it’s your former prom date or first boyfriend, remembering your past relationships can be a fun way to pass time. Plus, you can reminisce about those old times when you were fresh-faced and full of optimism. And if you’re still friends with your exes, that nostalgia factor will undoubtedly increase. It is important to remember good memories of relationships as well as bad ones though. Memories are meant to make us happy and provide fond memories for years to come! A well-connected network of people through social media sites like Facebook is enough evidence today that people want to maintain contact with people they have met in their lifetime.
To apologize from a place of maturity
While exes are never obligated to apologize for anything, it can be a nice gesture when they do. If you’re feeling particularly mature, consider apologizing to your ex for mistakes you made during your relationship. Even if they decline your apology, chances are good that they still appreciate your maturity and willingness to face past transgressions. At best, an amicable reconciliation is possible; at worst, you save yourself some future awkwardness or tension.
To increase self-worth
As much as we’d like to think that we’re above those who wronged us, there is a certain amount of pride in being better than an ex-partner. While it may not feel that way at first, surrounding yourself with friends who are objectively more successful can actually increase your self-worth. There’s nothing quite like being able to say my ex only got a call back for an internship—but I got a full-time job!
You might also want to check out these;
10 Ways to Cope with a Break Up
10 ways to find the right partner
9 Things You Should Know About Dating
How to Find True Love as a Teenager
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