Please tell me how to breezily end conversations?

[overweightcat]

I'm a socially awkward sloth on the inside and I don't have many friends (moving areas a few times and all that contributed), I used to be able to make friends easier but now I'm older and have DCs it's much harder and I find myself lacking social skills and my mind always goes blank when I actually need it to work.

Example today, I bumped into a lady today, she's lovely, we've socialised multiple times before but in a bigger group as she's married to DPs old friend and we all have DCs so it's usually a bigger get together.
We chatted for a bit which I felt like I was a bit boring with what I had to say anyway (she did not give off that vibe she's lovely and polite btw) and then I wanted to wave her off as she had a baby with her and I know she was just being polite at that point but I couldn't find a nice, polite way to say "I'm off bye" and ended up just waffling on with her for another few minutes about nothing in particular until she said she better get off.

Can anyone give me some pointers for conversations and ending them?
I struggle to progress relationships with people past just a slightly awkward polite chat.

@Dozer

Would skip the “it’s been lovely”, unless it has it’s insincere and unnecessary.

Would just say ‘see you later!’

I'd never stop in the first place unless I genuinely did think it would be lovely to catch up

Just run off. They will think you are way more interesting

Preferably after you've just stopped mid-sentence and looked around like you can hear someone in danger, Clark Kent style.

@Evelefteden

Just run off. They will think you are way more interesting

Someone in my office does this, I don't think he means to be rude he just has a lot going on at times!

Point over their shoulder, scream, and run like hell.

I used to struggle with this! But I finally found my perfect phrase, which I use everytime.
It's "Right, I best be off!"

Because that way I don't have to justify what I'm off to or why I'm going or why I'm going right now or WHY I best be off (the reason could for example be "I best be off because I don't enjoy talking to you" or it could be "I best be off because I need to get to an important appointment" - but either way with "I best be off", you don't have to clarify!)

Ha ha I gotta chuckle at this op because I struggle with this too. Usually end up saying ‘anyway I better let you go” in the middle of a sentance.

I do think maybe people like you and I are more aware of the ending than anyone else. So what might feel akward to us seems normal to them.

I think if they’re talking endlessly you need to grab control of the conversation and lead it to the end. Something like...
“.....oh wow it sounds like your getting on great in the new job (or whatever link to whatever they have just been saying you can find). You’ll have to tell me some more about it when I see you next. Anyway I better Let you get off and I have to get back before my parking runs out. Let me know when you guys are free for a catch up. See you soon bye”

If I want to get away from someone I usually sigh and say oh well I suppose I'd better get on then! See you soon!

"Well this isn't getting the dog's anal glands empty"
"I'd love to talk more but it's my condition you know"
"That Death Star won't crochet itself"

Any of those work?

As a recipient, I much prefer the waffle to the obviously insincere breezy comment.

I usually do "Hate to be rude, but I really should get going. It's been lovely seeing you, take care..." then scarper.