How to Get Over a Man and Still Be His Friend

friends after a breakup

No one ever said breaking up would be easy to do, especially if you want to stay in each other’s lives.

Sure, you may have heard that exes can’t remain friends post-break up, but we don’t believe that. In fact, we think that it is entirely possible to remain friends and still get on with your life post-break up, especially if you follow these guidelines.

Step 1.

You are going to want to cry and that is absolutely okay. Breaking up is going to be a painful experience and it will be quite taxing on you, both emotionally and mentally. You are going to go through countless ups and downs, and there is no way that you can have a clear mind during the whole process. You shouldn’t feel ashamed to be overwhelmed by any emotions you may feel, be they anger, frustration, and even sadness. You don’t have to deal with these emotions alone, though. You can reach out to someone whether a friend, family member or even a professional. If you don’t feel comfortable about any of those options, you can write them down in a journal and reflect on those emotions at a later date.

Step 2.

Avoid any and all temptations. This means on those lonely nights where you feel like you need to reach out to someone for comfort, do not reach out to the ex! This will not help you get over them because you will probably be sucked back into his charms and maybe even consider the ‘friends with benefits’ option. Also, you should avoid looking at things that remind you of him, going on his Facebook page, or even trying to hang out with mutual friends. Instead, keep busy and fill your schedule with activities that prevent you from being alone with your thoughts for too long.

Step 3.

Fall back into your routines. Just because you aren’t together anymore it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the things that you once enjoyed before. Although you may have enjoyed going hiking with your ex, there is nothing preventing you from going about your weekly hiking trips. The point of getting back into your routine is to help take the emptiness you may be feeling because that other person isn’t there anymore. Go about your day like normal; get up on time for work, make time to meet up with your friends on your lunch break, go to the gym after work… All of these things will help bring the normalcy back into your life and help you with the process of moving on.

Step 4.

Start hanging out with him again. After a period of time has passed since you’ve broken up and you really feel like yourself again, it’s okay to reach out to the ex. You can meet up for coffee and chat for a bit, if you were part of a group activity together, it’s safe to resume that activity. Just remember to make it clear that things are strictly platonic and you will not be tempted to fall back into those romantic feelings.