See you...in a year?

A friend of mine has (finally!) cut ties with his ex-girlfriend....or so he says. I've heard it many times before, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is the truth! His was the definition of a "toxic relationship" so it's definitely a good thing that she is out of his life.

And while I was telling him this, he informed me that they decided to give themselves a year of separation, and than after a year, they would see if they could at least be friends again. And that stopped my well wishes for him. It just seems that putting a time limit on when you can talk to an ex again seems counter-productive. Especially in this case — they were together for five tumultous years...stuff that a year apart doesn't erase. What, I wonder, is the point? All you do for that year is think and ponder and await the day you can talk to your ex again, It doesn't seem like the best idea when you are trying to "move on."

I would think that a better way to get to a point when you could talk to your ex and not discuss getting back together or who did what wrong in the relationship would agree that neither would initiate talks....but not put a time limit on it. If you are agreeing not talk in the first place...obviously that person should probably not be a main player in your relationship!

What do you think? Have you made such an arrangement? And has it been a good idea, or did it put your life on hold for a year?