10 Reasons to Stay Friends with Your Ex

You might scoff at the title of this article, but it's easy to forget that breakups aren’t always bad. For starters, you are still friends with your ex. That means you have a responsibility to keep up the friendship for the sake of both parties for as long as it can last. Even if your relationship wasn't great, you can make the most of that.

It's also not an entirely bad thing when it comes to your career. When you stay close to a former partner, they can help you with things outside of work. It's usually easier to keep a professional relationship alive if you continue as friends than if it becomes strictly professional. That’s why we have taken the time to compile ten reasons why staying friends is so good for both parties involved in the split.

1. Reduce the risk of awkward interactions

Let's face it: awkwardness can happen. Even though you may be on good terms, you probably haven’t seen each other in a while, and that can make things kind of uncomfortable.

Thankfully, you have the chance to keep up with your ex without the potential issue of feeling awkward. It’s much easier and less stressful to see them as a friend rather than someone who used to be a part of your life intimately.

You can avoid many cringe worthy situations simply by keeping up with them outside of work or your personal life as well.

2. Just because it was a relationship doesn’t mean you have to leave the past behind

If you both went through a rough breakup, then there's probably some lingering feelings of what might have been. That needs to be taken care of. When you're friends with your ex, it's generally easier to get over something without the added pressure that can come from being an actual partner. You miss your ex and they miss you, but it’s not going anywhere so let's just work on getting better.

3. Time is the best medicine

You might be tempted to think past relationships should just die off nicely with time, but we all know that time isn't always the best detox agent. Getting back into your friend's life after a breakup can neutralize the awkwardness by giving you something else to focus on instead of the bad parts of your romance.

4. You become friends with their new partner

When you're friends, you get to see them be all cute and in love. You get to see all their milestones as they become a family unit. The next time they have a birthday, you can send them an adorable card complimenting their significant other's cuteness. It’s lovely! Also, what odds do you think we have right now that ex #1 is going to introduce us to future bf/gf? A friend for life!

5. You stay friends and they become ex-friends

Relationships change, and people change dramatically over the course of them. It's easy to get influenced by things you don’t agree with or are just not right for you. The best way around this is to spend as much time with your ex as possible without taking into consideration who they're dating or what their political views may be. If you can do that, then when the time comes to cut ties, there won’t be any awkwardness because you’re already friends.

6. It's way easier to cut the cord

It’s just easier to sever the ties of friendship rather than a romantic relationship. If you’re friends with your ex, then it takes away the stress of whether or not you left on good terms. If you were in a romantic relationship, then leaving can be extremely complicated due to your history as well as how much time and effort can be put into it. It’s an easy way for both parties to remain friendly about things without letting emotions get in the way.

7. You don't have to be afraid of running into them anymore

This is kind of a fear that comes with ending a romantic relationship, but it's not always a bad thing. For example, if you’re friends with your ex, you can stop worrying about bumping into them at the grocery store or having to avoid them completely. If you run into them, it’s easy to just keep things causal and friendly. Just because they're dating someone else doesn't mean you have to be awkward.

8. They give your life a soundtrack

Going through a breakup is hard mostly because of how lonely it can make one feel. When someone takes up a large part of your life for an extended period of time, it’s easy for them to feel like the stars in your sky. It’s easy to get used to them and the times you spent together, even if it was just your friendship.

When they become ex-friends, the existence of them won't change how you feel about yourself. You can still love yourself and be completely fine with how much time you spent with them.

9. It's good for the soul

When you stay friends, you'll have moments when you don’t feel like doing anything or want to be alone. Instead of being constantly sad, try turning to someone with whom you can share some laughs or a bit of sadness. It's always nice to have someone in your life who can understand you. It’s important to not get lost in the sadness of a breakup, but instead turn it into something positive. The only way that'll happen is if you're willing to hang out with your ex.

10. It makes them feel good

When you stay friends with your ex, they appreciate it so much more than if you guys hate each other. When they know that you haven't turned into a backstabbing witch after the relationship, then it makes them feel like they made the right choice or that their decision was justified. They'll be able to feel good about the relationship and will believe that the breakup was the best choice for everyone involved.

Conclusion

Now that you know the benefits of being friends with your ex, maybe you'll start realizing the benefits of staying friends first and foremost. Don’t let the fear of not being able to hang out with your ex stop you. Keep in touch and keep them in your life. The best way to do that is by getting to know them as a friend instead of as a romantic partner.