Jealousy is such a buzz kill. One moment you’re casually dating someone and couldn’t care less if they are hanging out with other people; and then suddenly you start to wonder where they are and what they’re doing when they aren’t with you. You want to know who else they are sleeping with and see how well you compare to the competition. All of a sudden, your casual relationship has turned into a drama show. It doesn’t have to be that way though. Here are the best ways to prevent jealousy from ruining your casual dating fun.
Shut it down at the first sign of jealousy. Jealousy has a way of creeping up on us. First, you tell yourself that you’re just “curious” about who else the other person is seeing. But when you find yourself pulling the curious card, it’s worth asking why you even care in the first place. Do you want to size up the competition? Are you looking for reassurance that you’re the best looking one in the equation? Whatever the reason, when initial feelings of jealousy pop up take a step back. Once you go down jealousy road, it’s hard to get off the track.
Talk it out. Lengthy, emotional conversations are usually avoided when it comes to a casual relationship, but sometimes finding out exactly where you stand is all you need to put your mind at ease. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of your partner sleeping with other people, it’s completely acceptable to voice your boundaries. However, you must do so knowing that he or she might not be on the same page as you. If this is the case, it’s best to part ways before you get hurt. There are no set rules when it comes to casual and no strings relationships, so if one situation doesn’t work for you, you will find another one that will.
Check yourself before you wreck yourself. When you enter in to a casual dating relationship, you know what you’re getting-and if you aren’t ok with it, then join an online dating site that is catered to more serious relationships. Make sure you can walk the walk before you talk the talk, and don’t let jealousy be a dark cloud that hangs over how fun casual dating is. When you want to start questioning your partner, ask yourself-will his answers make you feel any better? Probably not…ignorance is bliss!