How to End a Friendship on Good Terms

Ending a friendship can be tough, especially if you have been friends with the person for a long time. Sometimes, people who were once inseparable can change or grow apart. In this article, you'll learn some ways you can essentially cut a friend out of your life for good without them hating you forever. After all, you never want to burn your bridges.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet connection
• Facebook or MySpace account
• A text message-enabled cellular phone
• Co-workers and other friends
• A significant other

1. Being busy is perhaps the easiest excuse a person can use to not spend time with another person, yet it is very effective. If the friend you want to end it with calls you to talk or asks to hang out, simply tell them you are too busy at the moment, but assure them vaguely that you will do something together sometime in the near future.

2. Fake an emotional crisis. If the person asks to see you or to hang out, tell them that you are "going through something right now" and aren't in the mood to see other people. If they inquire further, just tell them that "it's personal" or that what you're going through is private. This should buy you at least two or three weeks without this person bugging you.

3. Making a big change in your life, such as getting a new job, getting married, moving, or getting pregnant, is the most natural time to start evading a friendship. You can use your new job, spouse, or pregnancy as an excuse to not see your friend. "I'm just so busy with my new responsibilities at work" or "We're still moving in to our new place--you'll have to come over when we're all moved in" are great excuses to use. Also, you can fake morning sickness and nausea and use them as excuses to not spend time with someone if you are pregnant.

4. Spend more time with co-workers. This won't help you if you're trying to avoid a friend at work, but will in all other situations. Tell the friend you are trying to avoid that it is important for you to spend more time with co-workers right now so you can get a leg up at work, or because it will help you get ahead. Again, assure the friend that you will set aside time for them sometime in the future.

5. If all else fails, and the friend you want to get rid of is persistent, talk to them only through text messages or through Facebook. Again, make up excuses as to why you can't hang out (i.e. "I'm too broke right now...next month"), yet appease them by replying to messages and comments so they don't think you hate them.

Tips & Warnings

• Declining someone's invitation to hang out with them, yet promising them that you still "want to get together sometime soon", lets them down gently. After declining to hang out enough times, they will eventually get the hint and stop asking.
• Be creative in your excuses you make up, yet make sure they are realistic. If a "friend" knows you are lying to them, they will get upset, and you want to end the friendship on good terms.

[alishacra]

on 10/18/2009 Great information - thanks!

[kelbra12]

on 10/17/2009 Great article on how to end a friendship and would work for breaking up with someone. You have good skills at writing. 5*

[alias450]

on 10/15/2009 Thanks. More than anything, you want to gradually grow apart from the friend and make it seem like it was natural. Promising them that you'll "do something together soon" gives them the impression you still like them without having to actually go through with it. It'll be less hurtful for them to realize that you've grown apart than you simply telling them you don't want to see them anymore.

[waters]

on 10/14/2009 Good advice on how to end a friendship on good terms. 5* and recommended