Some say trying to remain friends with your exes never ever works in a million years. Some say, “You two have too much history,” or “Why even bother!” However, being friends with an ex is not impossible. It’s difficult, but by no means impossible. Check out these ways to be friends with your ex.
Make sure you want this.
It can be very difficult to be friends with your ex. So if the relationship ended badly, don’t even try to be friends with your ex. If the relationship ended positively but one of you is obviously pining for the other, then either get back together or cut them out of your life.
Give it time.
Don’t try to jump into being friends too early. Make sure to give each other space; you both may find that you may not want to be friends.
If you have mutual friends, use them.
Seeing an ex after a breakup can be super mega awkward. That’s why if you want to hang out with them as friends, it would be great to do it in a social setting where if it gets too awkward, you can go talk to your friend a couple of steps away.
I cannot stress waiting a while before trying to be friends.
But if you have waited, and you still want to be friends, try casually texting them to ask how they’re doing. Use safe topics like school, family or job.
Try to capture the essence of before you dated.
If you were friends before you dated, then fake it until you make it. If not, it’s okay to innocently flirt. Try to make an old innocent joke you once shared. Or perhaps tease them in a friendly way. But be careful that your comments cannot be taken passive aggressively.
If you and your ex don’t see each other often, and you still want to keep in touch, go to lunch or for coffee with them like you would with your old lab partner in high school.
Meeting them somewhere might make you nervous, but you know it won’t be as bad as you think.
In certain situations, such as a mutual break up where neither of you are attracted to the other anymore, being friends may be easier than you may think.
Perhaps you realized the best part of your relationship is your friendship. In this case, maybe after a month or two a friendship wouldn’t be awkward at all.
Being friends with your ex is hard, and very few people can maintain a deep friendship with someone they used to be involved with. Therefore, if you don’t succeed at being friends with your ex, it’s okay. It’s not easy. Sometimes trying to hang out to get past the awkwardness can be a sign of good will towards the other.
However, if staying in touch becomes awkward, then sometimes it’s okay to cut your losses and let that person fade into the past. Just because you left them in your past doesn’t mean you hate them; it’s just that you’re not meant to be in each other’s lives. There’s no need to force a friendship. Time heals all wounds, and a friendship in the future is possible.
To exes everywhere, not all of your exes hate you. If you want to rekindle a friendship, the first step is reaching out. Who knows, a relationship that ended positively could be rekindled later in the future.
