Summertime is in full swing! The nights are longer, the weather is hotter, and many of us have one thing on the brain: summer love.
Maybe you’ve already met someone who’s caught your eye, or maybe the influx of weddings you’ve been attending has you daydreaming. Whatever the reason, the season of love has you under its spell and you’re ready for romance.
Before you go out and live your very own Nicholas Sparks novel fantasy, keep these simple do’s and don’ts in mind to make the most of your summer fling and give yourself the best chance at carrying things forward into the fall.
When You’re First Getting to Know Each Other
Don’t – Assume the Other Person Wants What You Want
The worst thing you can do when entering into a summer romance is to assume you and your new SO are on the same page when it comes to your relationship. You might be looking for something serious and they might only be looking for something casual, or vice versa, and ignoring this potential difference in opinion could have you barrelling toward heartbreak. Even if you pride yourself on your ability to read people, or are certain the two of you feel the same, don’t forego an initial honest conversation.
Do – Be Open and Honest About Your Expectations
Even if you just met, having a conversation about expectations can make a world of difference in starting things off on a positive note. The conversation doesn’t have to be long or drawn out – be brief and direct and you’ll be glad you did. If the two of you are clear about what you both want right from the get-go, you avoid the impending misunderstanding mentioned above and can just enjoy your time together instead.
Once You’ve Spent Some Time Together
Don’t – Isolate Yourselves
Even if you are falling head over heels for each other, don’t make the mistake of getting relationship tunnel vision and begin isolating yourselves from your family and friends. It’s exciting to begin a new relationship, especially in the summertime, but it’s important to keep living your life as you normally would. If there’s a chance of your summer romance extending into the fall, you’ll need to know your relationship can thrive in your typical environment and not just in the happy-go-lucky vibes of the season.
Do – Take Them On Adventures
Summertime is the best time of the year for countless adventures, and the best way to get to know someone better is to get some endorphins flowing in a fun and healthy way. Instead of going on your typical dinner date, or being wary of introducing this new person to your friends, invite them on your annual camping trip or weekend getaway! You’ve already spent some time together alone, so why not make the most of your time and bring them along on your favourite adventures. Plus, you might just get the stamp of approval from your friends while you’re at it. It’s a win-win!
As Summertime Comes to an End
Don’t – Avoid the Hard Conversations
As the days begin to cool off, panic starts to set in as you worry about what will happen to your summertime love. Don’t avoid these feelings, and most importantly, don’t avoid the conversations that address them. If the two of you have spent significant time together for a few months, they are sure to be experiencing the same emotions and the best thing you can do is talk about it. Do you want your relationship to continue? How do you feel about one another? These are the types of questions that, though hard to bring up, could be the difference between what could have been and what can be!
Do – Be Willing to Compromise
The unfortunate reality of some summer romance’s is that one, or both of you may not live in the area and the end of summer means the end of your close proximity. Whatever the reason, be it family, work, or school, you have to decide how important this new relationship is and if you’re willing to put the time in to continue it. Both of you will be busy with your lives, so being able to compromise and come up with a plan to see each other that will make you both happy is key!
All in all, summer love is not always easy, but following some simple guidelines and making sure you’re never leaving things unsaid can make it more than worth it. Happy romancing!
