Here Are 4 Ways Tell You Like Someone — Just Not Enough To Date Them

A lot of pressure around dating comes from what we're going to tell other people — how we're going to quantify what we have with our boos to our friends, our moms, our Whole Foods cashiers. This pressure isn't just to be in a relationship — it's also to be in a certain type of relationship, a type that's palatable for others. But you get to make your own rules and your own timeline. If you enjoy spending time with your boo and you're being clear and communicative about that, then it's OK to have your own kind of unstructured thing and to go on dates without dating.

"Even though you may not want a monogamous, committed relationship, that doesn’t mean you have to subject yourself to being alone. Desiring strict companionship can create strong, healthy relationships without the need to be more than that," Edwards says. "Going on dates still allows you to have fun experiences with someone whose company you enjoy and who understands commitment isn’t something you may not be looking for right now." Armstrong seconds this, saying that “if you want to continue to explore your physical chemistry with multiple people, it's a sign you shouldn't get exclusive with one person.”

Maybe you'll never be looking for "commitment" in the traditional sense, or maybe you're in the midst of some serious life transitions and a LTR isn't possible right now. It's OK to enjoy someone's time without wanting more — as long as you're clear with them about it. As Dr. Klapow says, "If you are not interested in a monogamous relationship, it is critical to be clear to the person you are going out on dates with.”

Plenty of people have no interest in dating only one person, and just for the record, there is nothing wrong with not wanting to only have one bae. However, if you're someone who is pretty set on wanting an exclusive and defined relationship, it may be hard to be seeing someone who wants different things. There are also lots of people who do intend on navigating monogamous relationships at some point but are currently not in a place to do so. Understanding why someone may not want a relationship, or why you don't want the same kind of relationship your boo does, can help you from feeling like the "problem" is you.

"You are dating because you feel bad for them or guilty that they will be alone,” Dr. Klapow explains. “You feel that dating is 'the right thing to do' given your age, your stage in life, what other people are doing. You feel that if you don’t date now you will be missing out. You feel that you will be more accepted by friends and family if you are dating.” Don't let the #couplegoals Instagram posts fool you — people date for all sorts of reasons other than just being in love. Maybe they want acceptance, maybe they're afraid of being alone, or maybe everyone else at the college was linking up.

As Davis previously told Elite Daily, “Maybe your purpose is to explore different types of connections. Or to flirt and have fun. Or to learn more about how you relate to others. Whatever it is, consider your purpose your focus.” Your current relationship status doesn't guarantee you happiness or happily ever after. It's OK to just spend time with the people you like to spend time with, away from the definitions and labels. It's also OK to want and even need those definitions and labels. Your relationship isn't for other people.

But how can we tell that we're really not trying to settle down with someone? "The biggest sign is if you’re not ready to make a relationship the [number one] priority in your life," Edwards says. "If you’re not ready for the responsibilities that come with having a partner then it’s likely you’re not ready — and that’s OK! As long as you’re honest with yourself first, then your date, it’ll make [your date’s] dating experience much better.”

Maybe you'll never want to change your life to accommodate the people you're seeing, or maybe you're just not trying to right now. If you find yourself thinking about your own plans, your own comfort, and your own life before your boo's (and they seem to be upset by that), you may not be trying to date them in the way they're trying to date you. “It’s absolutely OK to 'not date' or have any type of relationship with someone if you don’t see a future with them — even if that future only goes until tomorrow," Edwards adds.

If you've always seen your life going a certain way — a wedding in a barn with lots of peonies or being single Pringle forever — then it can be hard to tell what you're trying to do with your boo right now, from what you see for yourself in the future. "Speak your feelings as they are now, not as a permanent state, 'Here’s how I feel about us today, as of right now, where we are in this stage of our relationship.' You don’t know how you are going to feel in a week, month, etc.," Dr. Klapow says. "Be honest about changes in your feelings good or bad — but recognize that feelings are dynamic. They can change over time."

Knowing that your feelings can change and being willing to speak when you start to feel differently can be helpful in dating. "Telling the truth is a way of being a responsible, mature person and allows the other person to potentially be the same," Edwards says. If you and your boo are both waiting for the other person to say what's up, you may be waiting a while. Being the first to speak up can encourage your boo to do the same. He adds, "Be open to any possibility when dating, keeping in mind transparency and communication are always keys in those circumstances when things do indeed change."