Ending an affair with a coworker, whether physical or emotional, is the right move to make if you want to preserve your marriage. Whether you decide to tell your spouse or not, ending the affair is the first place to start. Try to distance yourself from your coworker as much as your possibly can. In addition, don’t set yourself up for failure by being alone with them or in risky situations. Purge your social media and stop all contact outside of the office. And finally, avoid the temptation to become “just friends.” Instead, opt for a clean break and remain professional acquaintances but nothing more. Hopefully, you can end the affair and avoid any future infidelity.
Ending an Affair with a Coworker: How to Make a Cleaner Break
Distance Yourself If Possible
Ending an affair with a coworker is easiest if you can physically distance yourself from them. If you sit near them, ask to move your desk or office to another part of the building. You might also consider a lateral move within your company to get some distance. You must be the judge of how much distance you need to avoid repeating the affair.
Don’t Be Alone
Don’t set yourself up for failure if you’re attempting to end an affair with a coworker. Don’t allow yourselves to be alone in the office, for example. Or go on work trips together. Instead, bring along a buffer coworker if possible, and make sure that you have other people around whenever you interact with one another. In addition, avoid situations where you might be drinking around them without your spouse present like company parties or after-work events.
Purge Your Social Media
It can also be helpful to purge your social media and cut off all non-work-related interactions when ending an affair with a coworker. Delete or unfollow them on Facebook and Instagram. If you can delete their contact information from your phone, then do so. Stop all contact with them that isn’t work-related. Instead, if you must email them or speak to them, pretend like your boss is overseeing the interaction. That way, you’ll remain professional at all times.
Don’t Become “Just Friends”
Finally, after ending an affair with a coworker, resist the temptation to become “just friends.” This typically doesn’t work out, and can often lead to disastrous consequences. Either you end up repeating your affair, or you end up in a fight with them because neither of you can be just friends without feelings bubbling up. Instead of trying to be “friends,” try to simply be coworkers or acquaintances and leave it at that.
If you are having an affair with a coworker but are wanting to recommit to your spouse, the first step is ending the affair. How you decide to proceed with your partner from there is your decision. However, saying that you are done with the affair and then repeating it and going back on your word is never a good idea. To ensure that the infidelity is over, try to distance yourself from them as much as possible. If you have to remain coworkers, try to avoid being in compromising situations with them. In addition, cut off all ties with them that are not strictly work-related. And finally, don’t try to be friends with them. Simply being work acquaintances is the closest you need to be. Hopefully, you can make a clean break and then decide how you want to move forward with your marriage.