Here are 14 etiquette tips to use when you are breaking up with someone — via Madamenoire.com.
BE SURE THAT IT’S WHAT YOU WANT
Before you break up with your boyfriend, know that you are 100% sure that it’s what you want. Once you make the decision to break up with your man, there is no turning back. You can’t break up and then decide a week later that it was a mistake. Think about your decision before you make it and make sure that you’re entirely comfortable in the choice you make. Break ups leave no room for regret.
DON’T GO ON THE REBOUND
Once you’re single, you may be inclined to fill the void that’s created by not having a boyfriend. One thing you want to avoid after breaking up with someone is immediately going on the rebound. Rebounds are temporary and in the end they may do more harm than good. Instead, give yourself time to mend and heal.
WORRY ABOUT THE DETAILS LATER
So you have a dog together and a lot of his clothes are at your house. You two split a lot of bills. While these details do matter, when a break up is fresh and new, there is no need to worry about these issues right then and there. After a break up, you’re both bound to be full of emotions, and rightfully so. To keep things civil, deal with the details at a later time, when things have cooled down a bit.
DON’T INSIST ON BEING FRIENDS RIGHT AWAY
After breaking up with someone, the last thing you want to do is insist on being friends. In fact, during and after the break up you want to completely avoid using the “let’s be friends” phrase at all. This will only make things worse and truly, the last thing he or you need to be worrying about is how you’re going to remain friends after ending a relationship. Maybe you can be friends later on down the line, but right now, don’t bother!
DO IT IN PERSON
In the age of phones and the Internet, it is a lot more convenient and easy to break up with someone through Facebook, a text message, or an email. One of the worst things you can do when breaking up with someone is to do it through virtual means. Virtual break ups make you look like a coward, so take the step to break up with your soon-to-be-ex in person. It’ll make things go a lot smoother.
DON’T MENTION ANOTHER MAN
Even if you’ve started talking to or confiding in someone else, the break up conversation is not the time to mention him. During a break up there is no need to compare your guy to someone else or bring another man into the equation. This will only make him jealous and in the end you’ll end up being the hurtful ex-girlfriend who wasn’t exactly faithful.
DON’T PROLONG THINGS
After you’ve thought things over and you know the decision to break up is the right choice, don’t prolong it. There’s no need to wait weeks in order to break the news. Once you know for sure that breaking up is best, do it immediately. Of course, don’t decide to break up with him the second he gets home for work, or the minute you two decide to go to sleep.
Get the rest of the tips here.
