10 People Reveal Their Best Relationship Advice For Your College Years & It’s So Liberating
Jumping into the college dating scene can be a new start to a very exciting chapter. While letting go of your high school years may be bittersweet, when it comes to dating, college is an amazing opportunity to get some more experience under your belt. Regardless of what type of relationship you're looking for, knowing the best relationship advice for your college years can make a big difference in how you navigate this new environment.
First off, if you're feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by the idea of dating in college, don't panic. It's totally normal to feel nervous when making such a big life transition that comes with new responsibilities. Even though you're going to meet a dizzying amount of people and find yourself in some unfamiliar situations, just remember that it's all part of the growth process. With a bit of patience and the right attitude, you will learn a lot about yourself and have plenty of fun along the way. Who knows? You might even meet the bae of your dreams when you least expect it. Ultimately, the most important thing is to be yourself, focus on your goals, and everything else will fall into place. Here are some solid pieces of advice Redditors had on how to handle dating and relationships in college.
01Widen your social circle.
Go out to events hosted by your school. As a girl just by putting yourself in social situations should result in you meeting more guys. If you really want to be proactive try chatting up any guys you like.
02Figure out what you want out of dating.
In all seriousness, it depends what you're looking for. If its a hookup or potential FWB, nights out are the way to go. Go to a house party or student night out, dress nicely and either wait to be approached or strike up conversation with a guy you like.
If it's more then it gets trickier because things have to 'click' for it to work in the long term. You might get really lucky and meet your dream guy at a party or on Tinder. Otherwise, your best bet is to join some clubs and societies for your hobbies.
03Find healthy ways to deal with heartbreak.
If you're brokenhearted, the thing that heals you is space and time from that person, and filling in the hole they left in your life with other, positive things. Seeking contact with the person who broke your heart is picking at the scab.
04Don't stay with someone if things aren't working.
Being alone is better than being in a bad relationship. It can be hard to leave someone just because you've become comfortable, but if they're bringing you down all the time and you don't enjoy spending time with them anymore and don't want to be with them, then you'll feel better when you leave them even though you'll feel more alone. It's worth waiting for the right person to date, don't settle.
05Be honest with yourself about who you are and what you need.
You're not trying to be liked, you're determining your compatibility. I wasted a lot of time being likable and accommodating and unhappy because I wasn't being honest about myself and my needs. Once I changed that perspective, dating became a lot healthier for me.
06Assess potential love interests on who they are right now.
Don't fall in love with someone's potential. Don't have a list of things in your head that "when they grow up and start to do these things THEN I can be happy." Go on what they're like right now and cut short any fantasies or plans to encourage them to change.
07If someone isn't showing you as much interest as you'd like, move on.
'He just not that into you' is a thing. If he wants to make you a priority in his life, he will. If he makes a million excuses why he can't see you or make time for you, just move on. You will save yourself a lot of wasted time and heartache.
The person you date should make you a better version of you, not the opposite (ie, he should bring out your best, not your worst).
09Don't let anyone pressure you into anything you aren't comfortable with.
You don't have to kiss someone you don't like. You don't owe a guy a hug or a kiss or going back to his place or what the heck ever he thinks he deserves for taking you on a date. If you aren't feeling it, don't do it.
10Safety first.
If you are going on a date with someone for the first time, it never hurts to let a friend or family member know who you are going with and where/when you are going. Tell them that if they haven't heard from you by a certain time, they should start trying to contact you or find you.
Exploring different relationships in college is a major part of understanding how you function in a partnership and what you want in a long-term match. Even if you get hurt, the good news is that every heartbreak will teach you something new about yourself, and that means you're that much closer to finding the kind of relationship you want and deserve.
