Rejection always hurts. And while you can't break up with someone without hurting their feelings, at the very least, you can soften the blow and let them down gently.

It is definitly better to end relationships amicably instead of dragging it out until the hurt intensifies. But id you want to be single again, how do you end a relationship to save yourself and the other person from as much hurt as possible?

DO IT IN PERSON

You should never ever ever ever ever break the news through a phone call, a text or an email. It is rude and very impersonal and it tells the other person that you don't really care. Sit and talk to each other face to face and sort things out that way. But do not let the other person talk you out of our decision if its not what you really want. And lets face it, if you have decided to break up with them, that is probably what you want to do so stick to your guns. Be firm but fair.

BE HONEST

Do not make up some ridiculous lie about why you have to break up with them. You are NOT moving to Yemen for work etc. Don't lie or make stupid excuses cause they will come back and bite you in the ass. "It's not you, its me!" = " Yeah, its pretty much all you but I think it sounds nicer this way!"

Being sincere and open about your feelings and talking about why you feel things are not working out is the best plan of action. Instead of going back in time and fighting about what went wrong, focus on how you are both feeling right here and now.

SPECIFY A REASON OR REASONS

People will always ask the question "why?"

Give them a strong reason to support your decision to break up. It's not nice to leave a person wondering what went wrong. At least if they have a reason, they will most likely have more peace of mind about it all.

Rememeber, what goes around comes around, so treat people how you would like to be treated. Be sensitive and understanding.

CONTROL YOUR TEMPER

This applies not only to the person who is doing the "Breaking up" but also to the person at the receiving end of the news. Calling one another names and shouting does not help, it only makes things worse. It is okay to get upset and cry if you are feeling sad, but creating a scene and being mean will lead to disaster.

After all is said and done, you should wish the person good luck with the future and leave on good terms, even if you never intend on seeing one another again. A clean break up is often best for both parties involved, and it also makes it easier for people to heal and move on.

Even if you are the one doing the breaking up, it may surprise you to find yourself missing your ex,  especially if you have been together for a number of years. You may think this person is great, but romantically, it just wasn't going to work. Don't feel guilty about that.

Move on a be proud of yourself that your handled the break up with the dignity it deserved.