Friends with Benefits: A Guide to Keeping It Strictly Sexual
Hey there, friend! Are you considering a friends with benefits relationship? It can be a great way to have a sexual outlet without the emotional attachment of a traditional romantic relationship.
But before you jump in, there are some things you need to know. In this article, we’ll go over the rules you need to follow, as well as some potential pitfalls you should be aware of.
Rules for a Friends with Benefits Relationship
Rule #1: Don’t Fall in Love
The number one rule of a friends with benefits relationship is to avoid emotional attachment. You’re in it for the physical aspect, not the romantic one.
This can be easier said than done, of course. Our bodies release all sorts of chemicals during sex that can create feelings of bonding and attachment.
So, how do you prevent yourself from falling in love? One way is to focus on the physical aspects of the relationship and avoid getting too wrapped up in the emotional side of things.
Rule #2: Emotional Maturity Is Key
Being able to handle your emotions is crucial in a friends with benefits relationship. Jealousy, insecurity, and other rollercoaster emotions can easily creep in.
It’s important to be able to communicate effectively and manage these feelings without causing drama. If you find that your emotions are getting the best of you, it might be time to reevaluate whether this is the right kind of relationship for you.
Rule #3: Set Ground Rules
Before you enter into a friends with benefits relationship, it’s important to set some ground rules. These can include things like how often you’ll see each other, whether or not you’re allowed to date other people, and how you’ll handle any emotional conversations that arise.
Having these discussions up front can help avoid misunderstandings or hurt feelings down the line.
Rule #4: Don’t Get Clingy for Attention
It’s essential to keep your friends with benefits relationship strictly sexual.
That means avoiding constant communication or wanting more of your partner’s time than they’re willing to give. If you find yourself feeling clingy or wanting more attention, it might be a sign that you’re developing feelings beyond the physical.
Take a step back and reevaluate your feelings before things get too complicated.
Rule #5: Keep It a Secret
It might be tempting to tell your friends about your new sex buddy, but it’s probably best to keep your arrangement private.
Not everyone will understand or approve of a friends with benefits relationship, and you don’t want to risk judgment or a bad reputation.
Rule #6: Don’t Sleep with Two Friends from the Same Group
It might seem like a good idea to keep it in the friend group, but sleeping with two friends can create a lot of risk.
Not only is there the potential for drama and hurt feelings, but there’s also a risk of exposure to STDs if anything were to go wrong.
Rule #7: Don’t Be Overenthusiastic
It’s important to keep things fresh and exciting in a friends with benefits relationship, but you don’t want to go overboard.
Being too enthusiastic or trying too hard can come across as desperate or even scare your partner away.
Rule #8: Don’t Go on a Date
The whole point of a friends with benefits relationship is to avoid the emotional attachment of a traditional relationship.
Going on a date can blur those lines and create confusion. If you want to see a movie or do something fun together, keep it strictly platonic.
Rule #9: Distract Yourself
If you find yourself developing feelings or getting too wrapped up in your friends with benefits relationship, it can be helpful to distract yourself. This can include dating other people or picking up a new hobby to keep your mind busy.
Rule #10: Don’t Stay in Touch Too Often
While it’s important to communicate and check in with your partner, you don’t want to stay in touch too often. This can create a level of emotional intimacy that’s not appropriate for a friends with benefits relationship.
Rule #11: Avoid Sleeping with a Good Friend
Sleeping with a good friend can be tempting, but it’s usually not a good idea. If things don’t work out, it can create hurt feelings and even end the friendship.
Rule #12: Remember How It Ends
It’s important to remember that a friends with benefits relationship is a temporary situation. It will end at some point, and it’s essential to be prepared for that.
Keeping this in mind can help you avoid getting too invested emotionally.
Rule #13: Avoid Anyone Who’s Seeing Someone Else
Ethics and morals aside, sleeping with someone who’s already in a relationship can create a lot of drama and hurt feelings.
Stick to single partners to avoid unnecessary complications.
Rule #14: Mentally Date Someone Else
If you find yourself developing feelings for your friend with benefits, it can be helpful to mentally date someone else.
This can help you keep your emotions in check and avoid getting too attached.
Rule #15: Be Honest
Finally, it’s crucial to be honest with your partner about your feelings and intentions.
Honesty is key to maintaining a healthy friends with benefits relationship.
Things That Can Happen in a Friends with Benefits Relationship
While a friends with benefits relationship can be a great way to explore your sexuality without commitment, there are some potential pitfalls to consider. First and foremost, it’s crucial to avoid falling in love.
If you find yourself developing feelings for your partner, it can be devastating to realize that the relationship will never be more than physical. Additionally, a friends with benefits relationship can put a strain on even the strongest of friendships.
It’s important to be aware of the potential consequences and proceed with caution. There’s also the risk of disease involved.
It’s important to practice safe sex and get tested regularly to protect yourself and your partner. Finally, it’s important to be aware that romantic feelings will find a way.
No matter how strict you are with your rules or how much you try to avoid emotional attachment, it’s always a possibility.
In Conclusion
A friends with benefits relationship can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to proceed with caution. Remember to follow the rules, stay emotionally mature, and be honest with your partner.
And if at any point you find that your feelings are getting in the way, it’s okay to step back and reevaluate whether this is the right kind of relationship for you. Happy exploring!
Prolonging the Relationship Safely
Welcome back, reader! In a previous article, we talked about the rules you need to follow in a friends with benefits relationship.
In this expansion, we’ll focus on some things to remember if you want to prolong the relationship safely. Are You Slipping?
It’s essential to take care of your mental health when you’re in a friends with benefits relationship. Check in with yourself regularly to see how you’re feeling about the arrangement.
If you find that you’re unhappy or feel like you’re slipping into an unhealthy emotional state, it might be time to end things. Remember, your mental and emotional well-being should always come first.
Poke into the Details
It’s important to know your partner’s sexual history and to practice safe sex at all times. It’s also a good idea to encourage your partner to get regular medical check-ups to make sure they’re healthy.
Knowing that both you and your partner are taking steps to protect yourselves can give you peace of mind and allow you to fully enjoy the physical aspect of the relationship.
All Good Things Come to An End
It’s important to remember that a friends with benefits relationship is temporary. It’s not a long-term solution for you and your partner.
So, if you’re looking for something that will stand the test of time, a friends with benefits relationship might not be for you. Make sure you’re comfortable with the arrangement and don’t have unrealistic expectations.
There Will Always Be Doubts in the Air
It’s normal to have some doubts about a friends with benefits relationship. Fidelity concerns and long-term doubts can creep in, even if you and your partner have clear rules and boundaries in place.
It’s important to communicate openly with your partner and address any doubts or concerns that come up. Remember that a friends with benefits relationship is all about transparency and honesty.
The Bad Ending
No matter how much you try to prolong a friends with benefits relationship, all good things must come to an end. When that time does come, it’s important to end things gracefully and avoid negative consequences.
This means respecting your partner’s feelings and being honest about why you want to end things. Don’t make the mistake of ending things in a way that will hurt your partner or cause drama within your social circle.
In conclusion, a friends with benefits relationship can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to remember that it’s a temporary solution. Take care of your mental and emotional health, practice safe sex, communicate openly with your partner, and end things gracefully when the time comes.
If you follow these guidelines, you and your partner can prolong the relationship safely and enjoyably.
In Conclusion:
We’ve covered some important points to keep in mind when engaging in a friends with benefits relationship.
These include following the rules, being emotionally mature, setting ground rules, avoiding emotional attachment, taking care of your mental and physical health, keeping it a secret, and being honest with your partner.
We’ve also discussed the potential pitfalls of these types of relationships and how to safely prolong them.
Ultimately, communication and honesty are key to maintaining a healthy friends with benefits relationship. Remember, while they may not be built to last, these relationships can still be enjoyable and fulfilling if approached with the right mindset and approach.
