Although a boyfriend can be a wonderful addition to your life, there often comes a time when you might feel the need to get rid of your boyfriend. What is the best way to do it? Here are several approaches you can take.

The “Completely Honest” approach.

This is perhaps the best way to get rid of your boyfriend, but can often be the hardest option to take. It is quite reasonable to assume that you might have some feelings for your boyfriend left, or at least that you do not wish to hurt his feelings any more than you have to. Although being honest is difficult, it is often the best way to make a clean break up from him and not have to worry about a dragged out break-up. If you want to take the honest approach, it is best to schedule a meeting with your boyfriend where you can talk face to face. (Ending a relationship by email, phone, or text is generally considered to be rude and tacky.) Tell your boyfriend that you are no longer interested in dating him. If you have enjoyed the time you spent together, you can certainly say this too. Remember, you are under no obligation to explain to your boyfriend exactly why you are ending the relationship. It might be easier to leave out the fact that you started an affair with your trainer at the gym, or that you have accepted the proposal of your boyfriend’s best friend. However, if you wish to maintain a friendship with your boyfriend, it might be better to give him some notice if a situation like this is occurring. It is usually better to hear it from you than through the grapevine.

The “Honest But Through A Third Person” approach.

If you do not feel like you are able to tell your boyfriend that you want to get rid of him, then another option is to enlist one of your friends to help you. This takes the pressure off you from having to do the actual breaking up. However, the downside of this approach is that it rarely gets rid of your boyfriend for good, because he is likely to want to discuss things with you in person.

The “John? I Never Knew Any John” approach.

If you want to avoid any kind of discussion with your boyfriend, one of the easiest ways to do this is to simply disappear. Don’t answer the phone, block him from your instant messenger, set up a filter in your email to delete his messages automatically, and change your cell phone number. Eventually he will get the hint and you will be rid of him. You do run the risk of having a persistent boyfriend showing up at your home or your place of work. The avoidance approach typically works best if you are in a long distance relationship. It is important to remember that, despite his many faults, your boyfriend is a person and deserves some honesty. If you can’t deal with talking to him in person, it might be better to send him a short email rather than avoiding him completely.

The “I Am Horrible, Break Up With Me” approach.

Often seen in movies, this is where you act so horrible that your boyfriend will break up with you, instead of you having to break up with him. On the plus side, it has the advantage of you not having to be the one to hurt your boyfriend’s feelings. On the downside, quite often you will end up looking silly. You are likely to get a reputation of being “John’s psycho ex” and you really want to avoid that if possible.

The No Contact Rule.

No matter which way you choose to get rid of your boyfriend, the best way to handle the fallout from the end of the relationship is to institute a “no contact” rule. This means that you will not contact your ex for thirty days. Not because you feel guilty, not because you have their U2 CD, not because you always wished him a Happy Flag Day. Give your ex a chance to get over you. Also, you need some time away from him. If you realize that you made a mistake, then fine, but still give it thirty days to make sure that it isn’t just a case of you feeling lonely. After thirty days have passed, everyone’s feelings are less volatile and therefore you have a much better chance of remaining friends.

When You REALLY Need To Get Rid Of Your Boyfriend.

There are certain instances when getting rid of your boyfriend is not just a way to date the new guy in Accounting. If your boyfriend is abusive, then you need to get rid of him right away. Although it can seem like an impossible task, it is best for you to leave as soon as you can. If your boyfriend has harmed you physically, do not stay in the house with him. Call a friend or your parents. If you do not have anyone to turn to, there are many shelters and organizations which help battered women. You can check your local phone book for the numbers. Consider filing a police report and obtaining a restraining order. Remember, there is never a reason for you to have to put up with violence or emotional abuse. No boyfriend is worth that.