"Let's just be friends." It's the mantra said by couples who split up all the time, but does anyone really mean it? It depends. Consider the tone of the breakup. If things got really ugly at the end - perhaps one partner cheated on the other, or there was a major argument - then being friends just might not be possible. The same goes for one partner who just can't seem to get over the other. It's safest to make a clean break in those situations to avoid the cycle of breaking up, hooking up, getting back together, and so forth. And if you're the one breaking up, don't use the old "let's be friends" line to lessen the blow, particularly if you really never want to see the person again. You give your ex false hope of reconciliation if you offer to continue the relationship on a platonic basis - it's best just to make a clean break and be done with it. Likewise, if you're not entirely sure you want to break up, then it could be tempting to offer friendship as a contingency plan - perhaps you might want to get back together, and being on friendly terms could offer a way to do so.

Resist the temptation. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against couples who wish to remain friends post-breakup, but it's not impossible. Follow a few rules if you really do want to stick it out as buddies. There ought to be a waiting period in order to mourn the relationship and unload all the relationship baggage before you resume anything platonic - and be sure to keep it platonic. Otherwise, you risk entering the make up/break up cycle and feelings being hurt. Be sure you both are pursuing other relationships, but any relationship - including the one the two of you used to have - should be off the table as conversation topics. That means no rehashing the relationship trying to figure out what went wrong and no discussing the relationships you're currently pursuing.