Casual dating has many benefits including sexual freedom and a bolstered social life - but how do you know you and the person you’ve been seeing are on the same page?
If you’re a regular on the casual dating scene, then you may have found yourself embarking on various ‘situationships’.
This umbrella term is used to describe a romantic connection with someone who you’re yet to discuss an official relationship status with.
These situationships sometimes allow you to experience dating without intimacy, give you time to work on yourself and essentially have a little bit of fun in the dating sphere.
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But while many are happy to float around in these uncertain bubbles, others find themselves suffering from frustration and emotional vulnerability.
Like anything, there are pros and cons to these free relationships, but how do you know you’re in one?
Well, relationship expert Abby Medcalf, has had her say and claimed one of the key giveaways is that you and your potential partner only make short-term or last-minute plans.
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“If you play your dates by ear, and it’s not a given that you’re going to get together on the weekend or a holiday, that’s also a telltale sign you’re in situationship,” she explained to Women’s Health.
Moreover, Devyn Simone, a matchmaker and Tinder’s resident relationship expert, said that situationships are more likely to operate on ‘hourly and daily’ timelines.
“Many times, in undefined relationships, you may see your partner out of the blue or during odd hours,” she added.
Interestingly though, making short-term plans with your romantic flame isn’t the only indicator that you’re in a situationship.
They show and tell you that they don’t want a serious relationship
Abby claims that you should believe casual daters when they say they want to remain uninhibited and are uninterested in striking up a serious relationship.
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Moreover, she lamented that if they’re not calling, then they’re probably just not that into you.
“People will show you through their actions what they think of you,” she added.
Surface level conversations
Those who enjoy situationships often don’t want to discuss the future or intimate details regarding their lives.
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Instead, it’s likely they’ll make small talk with you, chat about work and probably keep their cards close to their chest.
So, if your conversations are lacking substance, you might want to look a little bit closer.
They may be getting bored
In relationships, you and your significant other experience new things together, maybe go on holiday or meet each other’s social circle.
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In a situationship though, experts claim you’re likely to do the same thing (ie. Netflix and chill) and have no desire to change it up.
But because of the lack of direction and growth, things are likely to become stale fast.
So if you find yourself getting bored or they’ve complained with no solution to change things, then you may well be deep in a situationship.
Topics: Dating, Dating trends, Sex and Relationships