Have you been interested in trying out a casual relationship? These flings allow for low-commitment, low-stress fun where you can explore the playing field of the dating world while still enjoying connections with others. But these types of dynamics are notorious for going south fast. Are they worth it?
The truth is that, just like with any relationship, a casual relationship will have its ups and downs, and the people involved have to be willing to cooperate to make the dynamic work.
4 Rules For A Casual Relationship
To do so, here are four rules you should set in a casual relationship.
1. Be Honest And Communicative With Your Casual Relationship Partner
You’ve likely heard plenty of times that communication is crucial to serious romantic and platonic relationships. But did you know that it’s also essential for casual relationships? All healthy dynamics must include some degree of healthy communication, and your honesty is paramount in ensuring drama-free casual dates. So here are some rules to keep in mind:
Disclose Intentions Upfront
If you only want casual relationships, you should be clear and upfront when meeting new people. It can be hard to find people who agree to go out with you if you only want a casual relationship. But it’s much better to connect with those who want the same things as you – it’s kinder, ethically sound, and a much more authentic way to live your life.
Get Everyone Involved In The Loop
A casual relationship usually means you continue to date other people – and that’s something the new person should know. However, once you have an established, mutual no-strings-attached arrangement, everyone you want to go out with after that should know that you’re seeing someone else currently, too.
Set Clear Ground Rules
Be sure everyone’s on the same page by setting some ground rules and always abide by them. Someone who wants a casual relationship with you but won’t take the time to lay out rules isn’t someone you want to get involved with.
Don’t Ghost
Ghosting is already far too common in serious dating, and you shouldn’t become a part of the problem. While casual relationships aren’t as close or essential to either of you as a serious, committed partnership, they’re also not entirely insignificant. Ghosting is plain rude, and studies show that it can have serious long-term effects on the people being ghosted. Worse still, other research shows that the act of ghosting reflects poorly on you, indicating negative personality traits such as narcissism. So if you want to end a casual relationship, either tell them in person, call them up, or send them a text. Don’t just disappear.
2. Don’t Go Above What Is Expected in the Casual Relationship
One of the biggest pitfalls of casual relationships is how easy it is to start participating in habits and behaviors that are only really suitable for committed partnerships. In other words, to use a vague analogy, you shouldn’t be doing committed relationship things while on a casual relationship’s “salary.” As such, keep the following rules in mind:
Don’t Compromise And Don’t Be Controlled
In serious relationships, it’s all about compromising and cooperating with a partner. In a casual relationship, your flings should be for fun and low-stress, no-strings benefits. Do whatever you want, and if your fling partner doesn’t like it, go your separate ways …
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