We already know that relationships are hard. It’s pointless to try and figure out a way to make them feel easy and low-maintenance. There are many cases when people who are feeling tired, fatigued, and overwhelmed by their relationships go to their friends and family for some advice.

They might be people with more experience when it comes to dating and relationships in general, but that doesn’t mean that their suggestions will work magically in your situation as well. Long story short, sometimes, advice from other people can do more harm than good.

We want to help you sort out the useful recommendations and the bad ones. If you are seeking to know what to take to heart and what to discard out of your thoughts, look no further, because here they are!

1. Play hard to get

This is an ancient myth that used to be told to young girls who were looking for a boyfriend. Older people used to tell them that if they play hard to get, boys will be more interested because their hunter instincts will kick in. Well, not much good advice if you ask us.

Don’t take it the wrong way, because a little mystery never hurt anybody, but you don’t want to play silly games here! It has been shown many times that usually, playing hard to get just ensures that you and your partner will end up alone.

“The dating scene is competitive, and few individuals have the time to pursue someone who isn’t showing any interest,” Anderson explains. “Stop playing these pointless games and show some interest in me.” You’ll be giving yourself a lot more chances to interact with folks you might not have met otherwise.

In conformity with James Anderson, the dating expert at Beyond Ages, the dating world is already competitive and this is why nobody has the time and patience to continue pursuing someone who doesn’t show any interest.

2. Don’t make the first move

You should follow this piece of advice 100% if you want to… keep waiting! This comes from older times when women were told to never ask a man out because they have to make the first move!

We are sorry to disappoint these people, but expecting someone to make the first move might never happen! If you want something bad enough, you should go for it! Just like Anderson says, you need to have a little courage to make the first move when it comes to dating (whether you are a woman or a man), and you might be surprised with the results!

Plus, would you want to wonder what it would have been like if you would have followed your guts?

3. Living together is a preview for your life as a couple

There are not that many couples who have a smooth move-in experience, so if you feel like living together for the first time will be a preview for your future together, you’re wrong!

Patty Newbold, a marital educator, explains that there are a lot of healthy, happy couples who didn’t start off as compatible. They have developed their relationship skills by dealing with minor conflicts. This will make the couple prepared for the major ones that will arise later.

Tip: Create a lifestyle and a home that both of you enjoy, and do it together! By doing so, you’ll be prepared for any diseases, losses, disabilities, work changes, character flaws, or childrearing issues that might arise later!

4. Compromise is key 

This might work when it comes to political parties or national issues, but not for couples. Marriage educator Patty Newbold says that excessive compromise is like accepting to be disappointed, but only as long as your partner feels the same way.

Instead of doing so, the partners should look for an alternative that will make both of them happy and content. In addition to that, you might be surprised by how many new things you are going to learn about each other!

5. The number of people you’ve slept with is a secret 

This one is really important! We live in a world where we are free to do almost everything we feel like doing. Having fun with someone and being intimate with several people are a few of them.

There are many people who feel ashamed to admit the number of people they have been intimate with. That is because they are afraid their new partners are going to judge them, or even break up with them.

In a situation like this, it’s always best to be sincere and to tell the truth! There is no shame in telling your partner how many people you’ve slept with because everyone is free to experiment.

Every relationship should be based on trust and respect. If your new partner doesn’t give them to you, why bother?

6. Trust your friends

We all know that it’s fun and easy to ask for our friends’ opinions and advice when we are having trouble dating or being in a relationship. But it’s not always good to do so.

That is because there are situations when your friends wouldn’t like a partner like yours for themselves, which will make them subjective. Instead of trusting them without any doubt, it’s better to analyze the whole situation, understand their point of view, and work from there.

7. The guy should pay

This one is a piece of out-of-date dating advice that can be replaced with a simple solution, according to dating and lifestyle expert Anna Wood. The person who initiated the date should be the one who picks up the tab.

The other person can offer to pay or to split. It’s a nice, respectful, and thoughtful gesture that means a lot!

TAKEAWAY 

What do you think about these dating tips? Have you ever followed any of them? Do you agree or disagree with them? Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment down below!