For instance, you might wait 5 or 10 minutes before you answer a text instead of responding right away. You might also cancel a date at the last minute by saying something like, “I’m not feeling very well. I really need to stay in tonight. " You might also skip celebrating his birthday or your anniversary. If he asks why, just tell him you forgot. Cut your conversations a little shorter than normal if you can’t avoid talking to him. For instance, if you normally talk on the phone every day after work and you think he would get suspicious or mad if you missed the call, you might answer, then make an excuse for why you need to get off the phone after a few minutes.
For instance, if he asks what you’ve been doing that day, you might say something like, “Nothing much, it was a normal day at work, then I came over here. " If he starts to get upset, you can either act a little more warmly to try to make him feel better, or you can talk about how you really feel by saying something like, “I don’t really want to be here right now. "
You can also get annoyed when he asks you questions. If he asks you what you are doing over the weekend, reply with something like “Why do you need to know? You don’t have to know where I’m at every moment. " If he realizes you can’t commit to the weekend, he might get the hint that you don’t want to commit to a future with him. When you do talk about the future, don’t include him in the plans. Talk about how you want to go on vacation with your friends or are thinking about looking for a job in a new city. If you fail to mention him in any of your plans, he’ll know you aren’t planning a future with him.
For instance, if he says something like, “I love you so much,” you might say something like, “That’s so sweet. " Keep in mind that this might really hurt his feelings and could provoke an argument. However, if you really don’t love him, it’s better in the long run to avoid making him feel like you do.
For instance, you might say something like, “I feel like all we do is argue lately. I need some space, so I’m going to stay with my sister this weekend. I’ll talk to you when I get back. "
If you are having sex, tell him you don’t feel like it or aren’t in the mood. If he asks you why, don’t give him a reason. In addition to making your boyfriend feel like things are fine, being physically intimate can make you feel more confused about what you really want. [7] X Research source
For instance, if he’s running a little late, you might say something like, “I’m not surprised, you’re never on time for anything. " If he picks a restaurant for the two of you to eat at, you might say, “Um no thanks, that place is gross. I’ll just make a sandwich. " Keep in mind that this could really affect your boyfriend’s self-esteem, especially if he’s sensitive. It’s much kinder in the long run to just be honest with him about wanting to break up.
You might also act jealous if he talks to other girls, demand to know where he’s been at all times, or pretend to be upset if he doesn’t answer your calls or texts right away. If your boyfriend is nervous about commitment, you might start pushing him to talk more about a future with you. That could make him uncomfortable enough to break up with you. However, it could backfire and make him start seriously thinking about taking your relationship to the next level so he doesn’t lose you.
For an even more obvious hint, try changing your relationship status to “It’s Complicated,” or remove your status from your profile altogether.
Keep in mind that if he gets upset by this treatment, he may bring it up again when the two of you are alone.
If you genuinely like his friends, don’t do this. They could hear what you said about them, which could hurt your chances of having a friendly relationship with them in the future.
For example, you could say something like, “You’re the first skinny guy I’ve ever dated. My ex was huge; he went to the gym every day!”