If I tell my boyfriend that we should be friends because I need to work on my own emotions and life, what could he be thinking?

If you want to break up with him be honest enough to tell him -if so, avoid friendship until you are both over the break up.

He will be heartbroken and confused and will only understand trying to change your mind. He will see friends as a way to hang in there until you do tack him back. That's what most see. It really depends on the kind of guy he is because when I get dumped, I disappear, and do my thing, we can see about friends later, much later.

If that's what you want, tell him, and tell him the truth, not this friends BS, after being more than that.

That means don't mention the friends BS, just leave him alone to process the feelings a break up causes.

As a female myself I think using that excuse as a way to get out of a relationship is is BS! If you have emotional issues that you needed to work out then you should have never got into the relationship in the first place. Men tend to look at that excuse as an easy way out of something that you were either not perpared for in the first place, or just don't want it anymore. And then adding we can still be friends?? If the guy really cares for you he's not going to want to be "JUST FRIENDS". Don't even bother throwing that in there. Your just going to hurt him more. But, if there is a real serious reason on why you don't want to be with him tell him the truth. It still may hurt him but, at least he'll have a real reason. And if they are issues with him then maybe he can work on them.