The Art of Unfriending Toxic People in Real Life

Ah, the art of unfriending people in real life. It’s a delicate dance, my friend.

Nathan Chen
5 min readApr 21, 2023

But fear not, because I’m here to guide you through the process with both heartwarming and clever tips. And maybe even a little bit of humor thrown in for good measure. So, let’s dive in.

First things first, let’s establish that unfriending someone in real life is not the same as unfriending them on social media. Unfriending someone on Facebook or Instagram is easy. One click of a button and they’re out of your life (at least digitally). But when it comes to real life, things are a little trickier. You can’t just click a button and make someone disappear. Well, I mean, you could, but that’s probably not the best course of action.

So, what should you do when you find yourself wanting to unfriend someone in real life? Here are a few tips:

Be honest (but not mean)

Honesty is always the best policy, but that doesn’t mean you have to be mean about it. If someone is no longer adding value to your life or if you simply don’t enjoy their company anymore, it’s okay to let them know. But instead of saying something like, “I can’t stand being around you,” try something like, “I think we’ve grown apart and our friendship…

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Nathan Chen

I'm Nathan Chen, a queer Asian writer advocating for LGBTQ+ issues, Asian representation, work life & mental health. Let's explore life's complexities together!