5 Pieces of Dating Advice You Should NEVER Follow
Dating can be rough.
As confident as you may be, you can never be too sure when it comes to the matter—especially because all of your taken friends love to offer up their two cents whenever they can.
Everybody has an opinion, but not every "helpful" tip is worth taking to heart. Scroll below for five pieces of dating advice you should never follow.
1. Wait a Few Days to Text Them Back
One of the most common pieces of dating advice we always hear is to wait up to three days to text or call your date after your first meeting. This is the dumbest rule you could ever follow. If you had a great time with someone and want to let them know, there's no shame in shooting them a simple text a couple hours after hanging out. It really shouldn't be immediately after your date, but don't feel bad if you wait less than 24 hours to hit them up. They may take a while to respond, which will quickly prove they're not as into you as you are to them. The sooner you know where you stand with this person, the better. Don't prolong your uncertainty by waiting days to interact with them.
(Pretty Little Liars via Freeform)
2. Play Games
We've often been told that playing mind games is the way to land ourselves a partner, but that is so not the case. Showing affection for someone one day and then completely ignoring them the next is A) ridiculously confusing and B) not the nicest thing to do. Think about it, would you appreciate someone toying with your emotions? Of course you wouldn't, so why do it to someone else? Chances are, going this route won't work out too well for you in the long run.
3. Always Make Yourself Available
Yes, you want to spend time with the person you're crushing on, but that doesn't mean you need to be available 24/7 to hang out. If they offer up a date to do something and you already have plans, don't cancel your existing arrangements to make time for them. They'll totally understand if you can't make it, so don't hesitate to offer up a different time for your date. Plus, absence makes the heart grow fonder, so allowing for some space never hurt anyone.
(Riverdale via The CW)
4. Don't Be Too Upfront About What You Want
This is some trash advice right here. It is beyond important to let the person you're dating know what you're looking for right off the bat. If you're looking for a serious relationship, but they want to take things slow, don't pretend that you want that, too. It'll make the whole dating process that much more difficult to deal with. You shouldn't feel the need to settle for something you're not onboard with, all for the sake of not being alone. Remember, honesty is always the best policy.
5. Do All You Can to Make Them Jealous
Everyone loves to offer up this ridiculous piece of advice whenever they can. Why would making someone jealous cause them to realize you're the one they want to be with? Ding, ding—it wouldn't. It'll likely push them away before you ever get the chance to really know them. They'll assume that your variety of other suitors in the mix means you're clearly uninterested in moving things forward with them. RIP.
(Riverdale via The CW)
Not following this advice does better your chances of getting a date, but it doesn't protect you from being turned down. If that happens, HERE's how to recover from your dating rejection.