Below you’ll find 10 flirting tips to follow.

Do you know the proper way to flirt? If you pass a gorgeous person on the street, should you initiate contact or keep walking? What about if you’re at a party, and you happen to sit down next to the most beautiful person you’ve ever seen?

The first key to successful flirting is not an ability to show off and impress, but the knack of conveying that you like that person. If your “target” knows that you find him/her attractive and interesting, he/she will be more inclined to like you.

Conveying that you like someone, and judging whether or not the attraction is mutual, involves a combination of verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

When you first meet new people, their initial impression of you will be based:

55% on your appearance and body language

38% on your style of speaking

7% on what you actually say

 

Let those numbers sink in.

How you look and speak is much more important than what you say. You could be telling the most boring story in the world, but as long as you look good and sound animated and positive, people will be drawn to you.

Here are 10 flirting tips to follow:

1. Do initiate flirtation with people of roughly the same level of attractiveness as yourself.

2. Don’t flirt with people who are unlikely to return your interest.

3. Use non-verbal flirting techniques:

Eye Contact: hold your target’s gaze for a few seconds.

Interpersonal Distance: find the sweet spot between being uncomfortably close or way too far away from your target (unless there’s a pandemic and you need to socially distance).

Posture: echo your target’s posture.

Facial Expressions: smile and look genuinely happy to talk.

Touch: reach out and put your hand gently on your target’s arm for a few seconds if it feels appropriate.

Vocal Signals: aim for moderation in volume and tone, with some variation in pitch and pace.

4. Opening lines: Ask a direct, open-ended question.

5. Turn-Taking: Make sure both parties contribute equally to the conversation.

6. Talking: Stay positive, and don’t reveal too much about yourself too soon.

7. Listening: Give verbal and non-verbal signals to show that you’re paying attention and interested.

8. Reciprocal Disclosure: Maintain a balance between your disclosures and those of your target.

9. Humor: Make jokes to reduce anxiety and establish a relaxed mood.

10. Parting: If you’d like to see this person again, you have to ask!

Flirting can be simple if done correctly. If you have confidence in yourself and know you have a lot to offer, the other person will hopefully notice and flirt right back. This Elite Singles article adds that you should give at least one clear compliment in the conversation. Everyone loves a compliment!

If you follow my 10 flirting tips, you will be a flirting expert and attract all the right people.

Should you take a break from your relationship?

There’s no cut and dry answer to this question. There are many different circumstances that can lead to a relationship break, and it really depends on the couple’s situation.

If you do decide to take a break from your relationship, here are some rules to follow:

1. State clear rules and boundaries.

Just like in the famous Friends episode, Ross thought it was acceptable to sleep with someone else when Rachel asked for a break. Even if you mutually decide to take a break in the heat of the moment, make sure you communicate what that means to you. Is dating other people allowed during this time apart? Will you talk at all or have no communication?

2. Decide on a timeframe.

Asking for a few days or a week to be alone and think about your relationship can be beneficial. However, if you don’t specify how long you want the break to last, you’ll both be confused and unsure of when to end your time apart. If you don’t know how long you need, it wouldn’t be fair to keep your partner waiting for months until you make a decision.

3. Discuss why you’re taking a break.

It might be obvious to the person suggesting it, but make sure your partner knows why you need a break from the relationship. Whoever wants to take a break should also be the person to reach out first and end the silence.

4. Know what you want to accomplish.

You may need some distance from your partner, but what do you hope to gain from this break? You should talk about what you need to work on while you’re apart.

 

When you should end the relationship instead of taking a break:

1. Your values are compromised.

If you take a break with the hope that your partner will change, it isn’t likely that the relationship will work out. Getting back together may feel right for the time being, but unless your partner’s values suddenly change, the happy feeling of reuniting will quickly fade.

2. The timing is off.

Maybe you just got out of a serious relationship, or you started a new job that occupies all your time. There is truth to the expression “wrong time, wrong person.” Life situations could prevent you from being fully present in the relationship. Don’t make the person wait around until you’re ready to commit.

3. You’re young and inexperienced.

Perhaps you met your soulmate in high school. You know you’ll end up together, but you feel the need to experience the world alone before committing to one another. If you’re meant to be together, you will be. If not, you’ll explore your identity and find the right person.

4. You’re not compatible.

You could decide to take a break because you’re not compatible, yet you have lots of fun together. You’re hoping the differences will disappear, and you don’t want to lose the great connection you have. If you lack compatibility, though, the relationship will fall apart eventually, break or no break.

 

 

Some couples break up and get back together numerous times. The length of the break could range from a day to many years. It’s so variable and dependent on the couple’s needs. Using the Friends example again, Ross and Rachel broke up and got back together a few times, and after their ten-year dating saga, finally ended up together.

A break could be just what you need to bring back the passion and excitement in your relationship. There’s no guarantee that you’ll stay together after taking a break, but sometimes time apart is necessary to grow as a person and as a couple.

On the other hand, you may take a break and then come to the realization that you’re not a good match. You might discover that you’re better off without each other, and a complete breakup is exactly what you need.

This Cosmopolitan article discusses the relationship break question. Should you risk it? It’s up to you. I have friends who took a break for a few weeks and then reunited and got married soon after. I also have friends who took a break, which turned into a breakup. Only you can decide whether taking a break from your relationship will help you in the long run.

How can you spice up your sex life? Once you’ve been in a relationship for a while, the passion and excitement may start to fizzle out. The most important thing is to communicate your thoughts and feelings to your partner.

Here are 10 ways to spice up your sex life:

1. Cook a romantic meal together.

Or alternate cooking for one another on different nights.

2. Give each other a sensual massage.

Use oils or lotions, and place candles around the room to add romance.

3. Take a dance class together.

Or turn up the music and dance at home.

4. Work out together.

This increases your testosterone, which will increase your sexual desire.

5. Plan a weekly sex date.

Scheduling sex into your calendar will hold you accountable and give you a night to look forward to.

6. Role play.

Dress up as your favorite characters and act out a scene from a book or movie, or create your own fantasies.

7. Blindfold or tie each other up.

Use ropes, belts, handcuffs, or ties, and make sure you have a safe word.

8. Use sex toys.

There are many variations of vibrators and dildos available, and you can add whips and chains if that interests you.

9. Wear sexy lingerie.

Most of us are visual creatures, and even if it’s removed right away, the image will stay in your mind.

10. Include foreplay.

This is very important for a fulfilling sex life. A quickie now and then is great fun, but jumping right to sex won’t work for everyone. Compare this to running a marathon. You may cramp up or get sore if you don’t stretch before running. Without foreplay, you won’t be as wet or turned on during sex. Foreplay can take place outside of the bedroom, too. You can send each other dirty messages or revealing photos throughout the day to get your partner in the mood. Or, if you know your partner will be home at a certain time, you can give yourself some foreplay to get started. This can include masturbating, thinking about what you want to do to your partner, or reading an erotic story. Only 20% of women can reach orgasm from sex by itself, so make sure you include foreplay into your sex life.

 

There are multiple ways to spice up your sex life, and you can try one or all of the ideas mentioned. Oprah Magazine has some other interesting sex tips for you, and the article mentions hiring a sex coach if you’re still stuck. Lucky for you, I am a certified sex coach and can help you come up with new ways to improve the romance in your life.

Be honest with yourself and your partner, and clearly state your wants and desires. If you and your partner have different sex drives, there are ways around that as well. Before giving up on the relationship, try my 10 ways to spice up your sex life, and hopefully that will increase the passion.

How do you figure out what your relationship status is with a partner?

Are you friends who hang out every so often, but you want the relationship to progress? Or have you been dating for months without discussing if you’re boyfriend/girlfriend yet?

Here are some common relationship statuses:

1. Friends with benefits: You’ve been friends for a while, and now you sometimes hook up when you hang out. You also hang out with clothes on and do “friends” activities if you’re not in the mood.

2. Hookup buddies: You hooked up right after meeting and have great physical chemistry. There’s not much of an emotional connection, but you continue hooking up because the sex is good.

3. It’s complicated: You may have been friends with benefits or hookup buddies, and one of you wants to take it to the next level. You can’t agree on what your status is. Therefore, it’s complicated.

4. Talking: You basically have a penpal. You talk regularly through text and maybe even on the phone, but no one is making the move to ask the other out.

5. Dating: You’ve been out a few times, and you like each other. You may be dating other people as well just to keep your options open. If you’ve had sex, you might assume that he/she is only having sex with you. Because you’re still in the dating phase, though, you’re not breaking any rules by having sex with others.

6. Open relationship: This status tends to exist when you put pressure on him/her to be exclusive. He/she can get around it by asking for an open relationship. Then he/she will say you’re the girlfriend/boyfriend but still be allowed to date and sleep with other people.

7. Exclusively dating: You’re not quite ready to use the boyfriend/girlfriend terms, but it’s pretty much the same thing. You’re only dating each other and sleeping with each other in this phase.

8. Boyfriend/girlfriend: You are officially boyfriend and girlfriend. You’re only seeing each other and sleeping with each other, and you can proudly introduce him/her to all your friends as your boyfriend/girlfriend.

What relationship status do you want?

If you’re not sure if you even want a relationship right now, you can take this quiz to discover whether you’re ready for that step. Elite Singles discusses the different relationship statuses in this article, and it includes many similar terms to what I listed above.

If you know what you want your relationship status to be with a partner, you need to have an open, honest conversation about it. Assuming you’re in the boyfriend/girlfriend phase without discussing it can lead to confusion and breaking up.

In conclusion, decide what relationship status makes the most sense for you. The person you’re dating will either agree or disagree, and then you can proceed however you choose.