There’s no set timeline for how long you should take a break from your ex, but in general, a few weeks or a few months is probably fine. If you still have feelings for your ex, trying to maintain a friendship probably isn’t a good idea. Wait until you’ve fully moved on before you try a platonic relationship. [3] X Expert Source Jason Polk, LCSW, LACRelationship Counselor Expert Interview. 11 February 2022. Make sure that you’re only seeking out a friendship, not trying to win your ex back. [4] X Expert Source Jason Polk, LCSW, LACRelationship Counselor Expert Interview. 11 February 2022.
It’s much easier to stay friends with your ex when things ended amicably. If there are no hard feelings from either party, you’re very likely to have a fun friendship ahead of you!
You might think that you’d never flirt with your ex again, but you’d be surprised! It’s really easy to fall back into old habits, especially if the breakup was pretty recent.
Friends with benefits relationships can work, but usually only with people you’ve never had feelings for. There’s a good chance that having sex with your ex will bring up old emotions for one or both of you, which can muddy the waters.
A lot of people recommend never hanging out with your ex one-on-one again—this is a great way to keep boundaries clear, since you’ll never be put in a tempting or uncomfortable situation.
Think back to what drew you two together in the first place. Rekindling that bond can lead to a fun, fulfilling friendship that might even be stronger than your past relationship.
You should also try not to dwell on the bad memories, either. Those may lead to resentment, and it can be tough to stay friends with someone that you’re angry at.
You might say something like, “Jessie and I used to date, but we broke up years ago. We figured out that we were better off as friends, and we’ve just been good buds ever since. I want to make sure you feel comfortable with our relationship, so let me know if I ever do anything out-of-bounds. ”
Try something like, “I know it seems weird, but Marissa and I really are just friends. We only dated for a little while, and we were friends before. But if I ever do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, we can talk about it and figure out new boundaries. ”
If you do meet your ex’s new partner, it’s really important that you do your best to make them feel comfortable. It can be intimidating to meet your new partner’s ex, especially when they’re still friends. On the flip side, if you’re the one dating and your ex isn’t, you might not want to broadcast that fact. Moving on too quickly can lead to hurt feelings, which doesn’t foster a very loving friendship.
Say something like, “Since we aren’t dating anymore, I’m just not super comfortable with that. I hope you understand. ”
You could say something like, “I’m not really sure being friends was the best idea for us. I’m getting a little confused about our relationship, and I think I’m gonna take a step back for now. ”
