How to Keep a Friendship Alive After a Relationship

Group activities can take the pressure off during socializing.

No matter how unpleasant it is, breaking up is a part of life. Although it's common for two people to end all communication after a relationship, many people may wish to remain on good terms -- or even be friends -- with former partners. While this can be achieved with careful tact, it can also prove to be an emotional minefield of destructive possibilities. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to increase the probability of your friendship developing and lasting.

Instructions

1. Give it time. You shouldn't attempt to "switch" to being friends immediately after your relationship has dissolved; you both need time to come to terms with it ending in order to achieve closure. This will help you view each other in a new light should you become friends.

2. Consider whether you still have feelings for your former partner. It will be virtually impossible to have a meaningful friendship if you still harbor romantic feelings for him, as it will get in the way of a newly platonic relationship.

3. Talk to your former partner about staying friends. If your ex seems equally interested in the idea, it's likely that you'll be able to make some progress.

4. Invite your former partner to group social activities. This environment can lack the pressure of one-on-one activities, and allows you both to relax with other people around.

5. Set personal limits. Don't allow yourself to flirt with your former partner, or spend a disproportionate amount of time communicating with her. This can blur the line between friendship and a relationship, which can cause confusion and hurt feelings.

References

• Your Expert Advisor: How to be Friends After Break-up?
• Yangutu: Remain Friends after Breakup