Casual Dating Tips

Casual dating can sometimes lead to a serious relationship and/or be one of the early stages of a relationship. But in other situations, people choose to keep things casual because they don’t really want anything more than that.

So here are some essential tips for successful casual dating:

Let your partner know what exactly you want from this relationship.

Be honest with yourself. Be honest with yourself about why you’re pursuing this kind of relationship, especially if you’re a monogamist. Some people may not align with your definition of casual dating, and that’s OK.

Communicate if things aren’t going as planned. This is casual, so you don’t have to pretend like it’s OK when it’s not, but your partner will never guess until you say it.

Set boundaries and stick to them. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but if you’re seeing someone 3+ times a week leaving your toothbrush at their place, you’ve already bypassed casual dating. Make a schedule. For example, try seeing each other only once a week or define a certain day.

Don’t make plans beyond a few days.

See other people. If you’re dating one person exclusively, no matter how casual you want to keep things, they can’t stay that way for too long. Add a little diversity, in order to maintain a safe distance from the person.

Go out. When you are casually dating, make sure you actually go out on dates. See a movie, eat at a restaurant, play pool or go to the bar. A casual dating relationship is all about enjoying new experiences with someone new in your life. 

Keep it off social media. You don’t know what else is going on in your partner’s dating life and you don’t wanna make anyone confused or misled.   

Make sure your sex preferences are about the same. All your sexual desires can be considered as well – that’s the idea of this type of relationship. If there is something you wanna try in bed or if there is something you don’t wanna do, be straightforward about it.

Keep chatting to a minimum. Text them when you want to make plans, but don’t text them about what’s going on in your life, we have friends for this.

Avoid people from your circle. For casual dating works choose a person who is easy to cut ties with.

Personal favors are a no-go. That means you call someone else when you plan to move or need someone to watch your cat while you’re out of town.

Don’t take them as your plus one. Go to events solo and be open to new opportunities

Introduce them to your friends only on very specific occasions. You don’t have to hide these people, but at the same time you should thoroughly select people you introduce them to.

Refrain from visiting your regular places with them. You should definitely NOT visit places you go (with friends or by yourself) quite often together with someone you don’t plan anything with in the long term.

Take health precautions. It’s always wise to take steps to stay on top of your sexual health, whether you’re dating seriously or casually. If you are casually dating and having sex, don’t forget about condoms and other barrier methods.

No jealousy. For instance, if you see on social media that your casual date is seeing other people, you should take it easy. The same is true for them with your dating life.

Don’t say that you love this person. It’s very easy to feel attracted to someone you’re having sex with and spending time often. If you feel like saying ‘I love you’ because they make you feel so good, hold that thought back. Love and sex are not the same things.

Respect each other. Casual dating should not be associated with a lack of respect for each other,  in any way. It is important to treat your casual partner with the same respect and kindness you’d treat any other individual. Don’t ghost . Casual doesn’t mean insignificant. Dumping a partner without a single word is not just rude and unkind, but can also cause a lot of stress and confusion.