How to Break Up With My Boyfriend of Six Months

Ending a relationship in person may relieve some of the pain.
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After having dated him for six months, you've realized that you no longer feel the same about your boyfriend. Ending a romance can be difficult and stressful for both parties involved. Though your partner may still be hurt by your decision, there are ways to reduce the pain of a breakup.

1 Be Prepared

Before calling it quits, make sure that ending the relationship is the way you want to go forward. Reconciling afterward may not be possible, according to "The Breakup Etiquette Guide," published on the eHarmony website. Viewing a breakup as "temporary" can leave both of you with false hope for the future. Practicing what you intend to say ahead of time can also keep you from getting caught up in anger and saying something you may regret later. Plan to be honest; admitting that you're ending the relationship because he cheated is acceptable, but insulting him or assigning blame is not productive.

2 Break the News in Person

Unless your partner of six months lives far away, you should plan to end things in person, according to the KidsHealth article "How to Break Up Respectfully." Make a point of acknowledging your partner's good points and what you enjoyed about being together. Keep calm during the conversation and accept that your partner may display a wide range of emotions upon hearing that the relationship is ending. Simply avoiding your partner can leave him unsure if you are leaving or if something else has happened.

3 Mind Your Etiquette

In the aftermath of a breakup, you may be angry about how your former partner treated you. The breakup is painful for everyone involved, but gossiping or talking poorly of your ex can add fuel to his pain and make others view you negatively, according to the eHarmony article. If the breakup is still forthcoming, you should also avoid discussing your plans with mutual friends and family members. Letting others do the talking for you can fuel bad feelings between you and your partner.

4 Other Considerations

Though your relationship may not be long-term, you should avoid ending it by text, email or voice mail, according to the article "Breaking Up" from the Emily Post Institute. You should also ensure that your former partner appears well enough to drive home before you leave, or consider breaking things off at your partner's residence.

Candice Coleman worked in the public school system as a middle school and high school substitute teacher. In addition to teaching, she is also a tutor for high school and college students.

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