Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Assess the situation
• Part 2 of 4: Restructure your time
• Part 3 of 4: Change your body language
• Part 4 of 4: Limit your communication

All relationships have their ups and downs. Maybe you and your friend are in a fight. Maybe he's shutting down emotionally. If talking doesn't work, try a new tactic. Sometimes you may need to distance yourself from your loved one, or even deliberately ignore him!

To step

Part 1 of 4: Assess the situation

1. Watch the situation. Identify when your friend's behavior has become disruptive. Consider how your behavior may have affected the situation.
   • Does his altered mood coincide with a stressful week at school or work, or has he been acting strangely for months? His absenteeism may not reflect his feelings for you, but rather an emotional response to a stressful or distressing situation.
   • Do you have unreasonable expectations of your boyfriend? Are you overloading his inbox with text messages? Are you constantly checking him? Or have you remained patient, calm and confident? Are you the only one making an effort for your relationship?
2. Think about your feelings. Ask yourself why you long to ignore your friend. Are you having a fight? Does he not want to communicate with you? Think about why his association with you, or lack thereof, upsets you. Are you the only one making an effort for your relationship? Remember, you may feel sad, hurt, angry, or neglected.
   • Record your thoughts in a journal.
   • Talk about your feelings with someone you trust. Talk about your feelings over a coffee time with your best friend.
3. Talk to your friend. Talk to your friend about your feelings and concerns. Talk in the "I" form and not in the "you" form. Give him the opportunity to respond. Don't cut it off or interrupt it. If he continues to be emotionally evasive or brush off your concern, stop the conversation and take action.
   • Take responsibility for your own feelings. Use the "me" form, such as "I feel ignored," "I'm concerned about our relationship," "I feel hurt when you choose to be with your friends instead of spending time with me. "
   • Avoid the "you" shape in your comments, which otherwise puts the blame entirely on the other person. Examples of "you" statements include "You ignore me," "You don't care about our relationship," and "You never want to see me."

Part 2 of 4: Restructure your time

1. Create some space. Don't spend all your free time with your friend! Consciously spend time without each other. Limit the time you see your loved one. It could make him miss you!
   • Keep yourself busy. If you live together, don't let him be the center of your attention. Read a book, go for a run, cook something, do the housework, do everything but try to get his attention to entertain yourself.
   • Don't spend every night at your friend's house. Try to spend a few nights a week alone. This will give him time to realize that he misses you when you are not there.
2. Get back to your job or hobby. Now that you have enough free time, you can invest it in your career or a new hobby. Fill your time with new activities and set new professional goals so that it becomes easier to intentionally spend less time with your friend.
   • Refocus your energy on excelling in your work. Pick up a new project or additional responsibilities.
   • Spend your free time creating a scrapbook, a new club or sport. Find activities that allow you to meet new people as a great way to fill your time!
   • Get active! Join a gym or explore a new running track.
   • Spend more time outside. Hit the beach or relax under a tree with a great book!
3. Spend more time with friends and family. Instead of sitting at home alone, you can go out with your friends or spend more time with your family. Enjoy a night out with your best friends! Schedule a visit with your family. Fill your social calendar with fun restaurants, spontaneous adventures and relaxed outings. Reconnecting with friends and family will make it easier for you to ignore your friend.
   • Visit your local art museum with a friend.
   • Invite a close relative to come over for dinner.
   • Throw a party with a theme.

Part 3 of 4: Change your body language

1. Turn the cheek. When you go out with your boyfriend, refrain from showing affection. Treat him as you would a regular friend. If he's going for a kiss, turn your cheek. When it reaches for your hand, put it in your pocket.
   • Don't play with him by being the first to show affection. Resist the urge to rub his back or put your head on his shoulder.
2. Distance yourself. Increase the amount of physical space between you and your friend. Do not sit directly next to him on the sofa, but sit away or choose to sit in a chair. Also take some physical distance at night.
   • Don't lie spoonful in bed!
   • If you're taking the same classes, sit in a different row.
   • By taking a physical distance from him, it will be easier not to respond to his advances (and prevent you from reaching out first)!
3. Limit eye contact. If you happen to bump into your friend in public, try not to make eye contact with him. Look in the distance. Look up, look down. Look around you. Don't look at him!
   • Don't turn your back on him or you won't know what his reaction is. Keep it in your peripheral vision; look at him from the corner of your eye.

Part 4 of 4: Limit your communication

1. Do not initiate contact. Do not call or text him. For a change, let him take the initiative to contact you. If the urge to call him gets very strong, call a friend first. Agree to go to the movies or go out to dinner together.
   • Only contact your friend when absolutely necessary!
   • Ignore him on social media. If it's too tempting to chat with him online, take a short social media break or block him.
2. Ignore his phone calls and text messages. When your friend wants to be in touch, ignore him! Let the voicemail handle his calls. Let his unanswered text messages fill your inbox. Force your friend to wait for your response!
   • Resist the urge to constantly check your phone. Put your phone in another room, turn the device off or on mute.
   • Give your phone to a friend or family member.
   • In addition, ignore his attempts to reach you on social media! Do not reply to any of his email messages or respond to online responses. If there is no other option, block it for a short period of time.
3. Shorten your answers. When talking to your friend, keep the conversation short. Give short answers to his questions, and don't elaborate. Don't ask him about his day or what his plans are for the weekend. Be distant and disinterested.
   • Answer with nods and a shrug.
   • Keep your answers short. Answer with one word, such as: "Yes", "No", "Okay" and "Fine".