7 Ways To End A Friends With Benefits Situation Without Drama

Friends with benefits sounds like this simple no strings attached agreement. You can have fun and laugh and talk, and, of course, have sex without the drama of a relationship. But more often than not, things have a way of leading you toward complications. But if you know how to end a friends with benefits situation right, you can end it the right way and keep your friend too.

In a friends with benefits situation, not only are feelings likely to erupt, but when they only come from one side it becomes more complicated than you signed up for. Not to mention if you start liking someone else.

A friends with benefits situation is a funny thing. You start up to both get something out of it, but how do you stop and go back to the way things were before?

You entered into this in the first place so there wouldn’t be a break up per se. But when it comes to figuring out how to end a friends with benefits situation it can be even more complicated. How can you do it without the confusion?

# Make sure they know you appreciate them as a friend

Let them know you care about your friendship, but you think the benefits have run their course. It was fun while it lasted, but it is time to move on.

Make sure they know they weren’t just casual sex because you do care for them but need to take dating more seriously.

# Ask if they are upset

You do not want to blindside this person, they are your friend after all. After a break up, you take some time apart and count on your friends, but this is your friend. So count on each other and say goodbye in a healthy way.

Talk to them. Ask if they saw this coming and communicate. Let them know why you want to end things and make sure they know you are still there for them as a friend.

# Prepare them

As a friend they will probably be following you on social media and seeing you out and about. If you are jumping into the dating scene or a relationship, make sure they know.

They deserve your respect and not to be taken off guard when they see you making out with someone. Even if they didn’t develop feelings they deserve to know what to expect.

# Take some time off

If they did develop feelings, or maybe you did and want to get out before they get more intense, take a break. Let them know that you think things are getting more complicated than you planned. You think you should get some space before going back to be just friends.

This is sort of like a break up in a way. Take some time to mourn the part of this situation that is ending before getting back to the friendship. Just make sure you are on the same page about maintaining your friendship.

# Do not avoid them

If you plan on being friends after ending the benefits, ghosting is NOT an option. This really should never be an option, but especially in this situation. By developing a friends with benefits situation rather than meaningless sex with a stranger you agreed to being honest.

So you owe them at least that. If you stop answering them and just hang them out to dry you are not only being rude and disrespectful, but you are being a coward and a pretty bad friend. It does not have to be a big ordeal. Simply let them know how you’re feeling. If they are a good friend, they will understand.

# Let them be upset

As I said, it is a sort of break up. If you have been thinking about it for a while, it might be shocking to this person so give them a chance to come to terms. Let them be shocked and upset. Eventually they will understand and your friendship should survive.

If they have a hard time ending things they may have had feelings you didn’t know about, so give them some time. You can reach out to hang out, but give them the space they need.

# Stick to your decision

If you are ending your friends with benefits situation so you could date, but then have a bad date, do not expect this person to be waiting around with open arms.

If you end things then pick them up again, not only is that confusing for both of you, but it makes things complicated with this friendship and anyone else you are thinking about dating.