Ending the Not-Quite Relationship

You’re not really in a relationship but the lines are blurred, so how do you end things?

Photo Source: Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels

There are stages to dating and relationships. First dates are fun and exciting with a low level of commitment. A few dates in and there’s an unspoken promise of interest. A few more dates and you might start talking about where things can go. And after a certain point, you both agree that this is a relationship — and an exclusive one.

And once we’ve agreed it’s a relationship, the rules for ending it are pretty clear. We’re supposed to be gentle and kind, honest and clear, and we’re supposed to do it face-to-face unless we’re afraid of our partner.

But what about before the relationship becomes a relationship? What if we’re somewhere in that space between first date and talking about the future? What if we’re friends who have hooked up?

If we can’t define what this is, how can we end it? How can we tell someone this is over if we don’t even know what this is?

I have four ways you can end a non-relationship based on what’s been happening.

Ghosting

Ghosting is generally seen as a negative thing. And if it’s done when a relationship has been established as one, or when we’ve reached the…