There are certain rules you should follow to make your casual dating experience more successful. These tips will help you find someone who is compatible with you and who will grow into a long-term relationship when the time is right.
If you’re new to dating, it can be intimidating to put yourself out there. That’s why it’s so important to remember that there is a life beyond dating, and you shouldn’t let casual relationships get in the way of your other interests.
1. Don’t Be Overly Excited
Casual dating is a great way to have fun and get to know people without having any commitments. However, it can also be a dangerous path to take if you’re not careful.
There are a few key things you should know before you start dating a casual partner. First of all, it’s important to not be overly excited.
Getting too excited can cause you to miss out on what the casual relationship is all about. It can also be dangerous because it could lead you to impulsively pursue something more serious than you want.
In addition, you should also avoid being jealous of your casual partner. It’s normal to feel this way from time to time, but it can be very damaging if you let it get out of hand.
One of the best ways to avoid becoming too excited about your casual relationship is by remembering that it’s not going to be a long-term affair.
You should also be aware that your casual partner may be dating other people. If you’re a person who is all about monogamy, this can be stressful and difficult to deal with.
Finally, it’s a good idea to stay away from social media if you’re dating someone casually. This will help prevent you from seeing their posts and fantasies about a more serious relationship.
It’s important to communicate clearly what you want from your casual relationship, and how much you can compromise on that. Otherwise, you’ll run into a lot of problems down the road. If your casual partner isn’t on the same page as you, then it might be worth ending the relationship.
2. Don’t Overthink It
Overthinking is a common problem that many people struggle with, but it is possible to change your habits. You simply need to stop spending all your time thinking about things that are out of your control, and focus on the present.
Over-thinking can take over your life and stop you from living in the moment, which is a key component to a healthy relationship. Over-thinking often stems from a root fear, such as a lack of self-worth or feeling worthless.
If you have a fear about not being good enough, it is important to tackle it head on and make changes that will help you overcome it. One of the best ways to start is to work on your confidence.
Another way to combat over-thinking is to remember the 90-10 rule, which says that 90% of our worth comes from ourselves and 10% comes from others. Overthinkers distort this formula, believing that 90% of their value comes from what others think and say about them, instead of from how they are.
It’s also a good idea to practice being less critical of your partner’s actions, Sarah Nickerson, a licensed clinical therapist, tells Bustle. Over-thinking can cause us to look for faults in our partners that aren’t there, and it can often be difficult to trust that they are doing the right thing.
As a result, over-thinking can be a debilitating habit that can keep you from enjoying your dating life. It’s easy to let overthinking become a serious issue when it starts to interfere with your relationships.
If you are struggling with over-thinking, don’t worry – it is possible to change your habits and get back on track with your love life. You just need to be patient and kind to yourself.
3. Don’t Expect Anything
While casual dating sounds like a dream come true, it can also have some downsides. The main one is that you can get too wrapped up in your relationship and forget about other parts of life.
You can’t expect a casual partner to be your best friend, or even your soulmate, so you should be very careful about how much time and energy you spend with them. This is especially important if you aren’t looking for anything serious.
If you aren’t clear about what you want from your casual relationships, you can cause confusion and harm to yourself and your dates. This is why it’s important to make sure your partners are on the same page as you about what you’re seeking in a casual relationship.
Another thing that can be very problematic is if you start to think about your casual partner in a romantic way. If you have a crush on them and can’t help but fantasize about them every night, this can be a sign that you are falling in love with them.
This can be a hard thing to deal with, but it is crucial to talk about your feelings and keep them in check. This can give you the space and time to figure out if you are truly in love with your casual partner, or if you have just been attracted to them because of how they make you feel.
You can also be jealous if your casual partner is seeing other people while you are still with them. This can be very painful for both of you, so it’s important to make sure your partner isn’t doing this. If they are, then you should tell them so that you can work through your issues together.
4. Don’t Be Overly Dependent
There’s no doubt that it can be tempting to feel overly dependent on your casual partner. This can come in the form of relying on them to take care of your everyday needs. If they’re not willing to do this for you, it’s time to let them go!
If you want to maintain a healthy relationship, it is important to set up boundaries with your casual dating partner. These include things like when you’ll be able to see them, what they are allowed to do, and how much contact you can have with them.
When you’re able to set boundaries, you can avoid feeling emotionally reliant on your casual partner and avoid getting hurt or aggravated by their behavior. This can help keep you from becoming emotionally attached to them in the long run and can also help prevent future problems when they aren’t around.
Keeping boundaries is essential when you’re in a casual relationship, regardless of your age or the stage of life that you are in. If you are in your twenties or early thirties, for example, it can be difficult to make the transition from dating casually to a more committed relationship.
This is where setting clear expectations and communicating them clearly is a must. This will help ensure that you and your casual partner are both on the same page about what this relationship is, what your goals and expectations are, and how the two of you are going to be able to work together.
While it is true that no relationship can ever be successful and become serious, you should know when it is time to stop casually dating and move on. This can be a very hard decision, but one that should be made in your best interest.
5. Don’t Ghost Your Partner
Generally, when you’re dating a casual partner, it’s important to be respectful of their boundaries. This includes being honest about what you’re looking for in a relationship and what you’re willing to go through sexually.
It’s also important to let your casual partner know what you expect from the relationship and if anything changes in the future. Establishing this upfront can make sure you both feel safe and comfortable together.
Ghosting is a common and unhealthy practice that can be damaging to relationships. The act of ghosting your partner can cause them to feel deeply hurt, confused, and even hopeless. They may wonder what happened, and they might carry that pain into the next relationship they date.
Some people ghost because they are immature and don’t know how to deal with their feelings. They might be unable to give their date the chance to process what they did wrong or deal with their anger.
You should also never ghost if you think your safety is at risk. If you are being verbally or physically abused, it is always best to protect yourself and not be the one to tell your casual partner that you’re going to break up with them.
The best way to tell someone that you aren’t interested in them is by having a conversation. You should be honest about your reasons for not wanting to talk to them anymore and offer them a way to exit the relationship without ghosting them.
It’s important to not ghost your partner when you are dating a casual partner because it can cause them a lot of grief and confusion. It’s also a bad habit that can affect the way other people view you in the future.
