The 5 signs that you should walk away from a friendship

As I get older, I notice that I am becoming more conscious of the choices I make regarding friendships. While in my student days I tried to keep all the balls (friends) in the air, I now only meet up with people who give me energy. And believe me: there aren't that many. I have come to the conclusion that I was actually maintaining a lot of friendships. People you feel obligated to meet up with, but you don't necessarily look forward to it. Call it a one-sided friendship, without the other being aware of it.

But how do you know when it's time to end such a friendship? Because if you only meet up to please the other person, then you are not being sincere, and that is ultimately not pleasant for anyone. As painful as it may be, sometimes it can be a huge relief to end a friendship that no longer brings you anything. Based on these signals, you can find out whether you should let that one friend go:

End of friendship: when you no longer look forward to a meeting

This first signal is quite easy to recognize. When you dread meeting up, you know something is wrong. You have probably rescheduled the meeting multiple times and can't bear to do it for the twentieth time. But you are also quite happy when the other person cancels. In a friendship, you should actually look forward to a date with each other. So if you do anything but that? Then it really is a case of: end of friendship.

Exhausted after a friendship date? This says a lot

From your friends, you usually get loads of energy because they brighten your day with their presence. On the other hand, if you go home completely exhausted because you feel like you are only serving as a sounding board, then it is high time to break the friendship. Of course, someone should also be able to come to you with their problems, but the starting point in a friendship is not to completely drain each other's energy.

If you are not being heard: the one-sided friendship

In a one-sided friendship, there are one-sided conversations. This means: there is no listening to you or asking about your life at all. The only thing expected of you is to listen and give advice. As soon as you start talking about yourself, you notice that no one is even listening. So you get absolutely nothing from such a friendship.

You only share memories – and nothing more

A friendship Ending a friendship with someone you have known since childhood can feel very unnatural. After all, you grew up together, and maybe even your parents are friends. Yet, there is a good chance that you are growing apart and therefore have nothing to share during a meeting. If the past is the only thing that still connects you, then it is high time to say goodbye. Your lives are simply too far apart.

You prefer not to share your life with that person anymore

You want to share good news and important events in your life with your friends immediately. On the other hand, if you feel no need to tell this because you are not very interested in what that person thinks, then that could mean the end of the friendship.

Deep down, you know: this is not working anymore

When the other person constantly seeks contact while you are slowly trying to pull away, this can cause a lot of discomfort and irritation. So when you feel deep down that someone no longer fits in your life, then especially stop maintaining it and communicate (as painful as it may be) to the other that you no longer feel the friendship friendship. Of course, that will hurt for a while, but ultimately it will be a relief, and you won't have to come up with excuses every week.

5 tips to lovingly end a friendship

Be honest, but empathetic – Say what you feel without tearing the other down.
Choose a calm moment – No text, but a real conversation (preferably in person).
Allow space for a response – The other person may also feel and say something.
Accept that it can stop – Not every friendship is for life.
Close with gratitude – For the beautiful memories that were there.