Don’t go all the way on the first date
Going home with the other person after a first date is a sure-fire way to let them know that you’re only after a casual relationship. So, if you’re actually looking for something more serious, it’s always best to keep them wanting more. When you take the physical side of things out of the equation, it gives you a chance to get to know each other’s PERSONALITY and connect on a deeper level. The feeling you get at the start of a blossoming relationship is magic, make it last as long as possible and it will all be worth the wait!

Friends ex’s/ex’s friends are always off limits
Over the years we’ve all become pretty friendly with each other’s partners or friends thanks to social media, but there’s still a line that mustn’t be crossed! No matter how close you are, there’s rarely ever a reason for you to be hanging out alone with them, so feelings shouldn’t be developing, but if they do, shut it down immediately. No matter how much they protest, your friends will always care if you take an interest in their ex and your ex will always know everything about your new relationship with their friend; it just turns into an nasty mess! There’s plenty more fish in the sea; don’t take someone else’s fish.

Honesty is the best policy
Of course none of us think we’re as great as we actually are (you’re awesome by the way), so it can be tempting to bend the truth a little to make us seem like the perfect potential partner. But the truth is that none of us are perfect and the world would be a pretty boring place if we all fitted into the same perfect category. If you end up having a full-blown-life-changing serious relationship with this person, they’re going to have to get to know the real ‘you‘ sooner or later! It’s exhausting pretending to be something you’re not, plus, there are so many different ways to cyber stalk these days that your little white lie will probably be found out very quickly.

Don’t play games
Dating games are for teenagers and reality TV shows, mature adults just get annoyed with such things and it makes the whole dating experience more puzzling than it already is. Inspiring jealousy, playing hard to get and treating them mean to keep them keen sounds more like manipulation and, most of the time, has the opposite effect. Lay your cards on the table, be honest with each other and let the other person know where they stand; games just make you look insecure, and we all know that confidence is the biggest turn on.

Phone calls are still the best communication method
Gone are the days where you used to talk on the landline for hours on end; a line of perfectly-placed emojis just doesn’t mean the same thing. Once you get past the scary first phone call, the rest should be a breeze, a pleasure even. Anyone can send a text message, but taking time out of your day for a phone conversation requires a lot more effort and shows that you actually care about talking to the other person. Most of us find it a lot easier to say how we feel over the phone compared to a face-to-face situation, so don’t miss out on those bonding experiences that leave you knowing even more about the person you’re dating.

Always trust your instincts
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of love, but you should always trust that little voice inside of you when something just doesn’t seem right. If you have cause to question your relationship, it’s fair to say that your worries haven’t just sprouted from nowhere, so trust your gut and know when to speak up. The same goes for butterflies; it’s an amazing feeling and when you feel them around someone, don’t be afraid to go for it!

Until next time,

The Just Singles Team.

About the author…

Rachel is a Marketing Executive. She’s obsessed with Game of Thrones and country music. Her favourite pastime is cuddling up with her two Labradors and binge watching Netflix.