i was looking for someone to hang out with and, if i’m totally honest, someone to hook up with more exclusively — like a regular friend with benefits, but none of the other obligations. what i really wanted was something in-between; i wanted the goldilocks set-up of being exclusive, but not in an official relationship. ultimately, our super casual relationship did evolve, and we made things official, but i truly believe part of the reason our relationship has gone the …

it is when you have been dating for a while and feel that there is a deep connection between the two of you. however, even if you are in the exclusive dating stage, you may still have backup people who can be called to the forefront if the relationship does not develop into a full-fledged relationship.hopefully, the meaning of exclusive dating is now clear to you. what is exclusive dating exactly, what is expected of partners during this phase, and …

but it goes to show that no one really has this “defining the relationship” thing—and more specifically, the difference between exclusive dating and an actual relationship—on lockdown. it helps if you have a clear intention about your life and dating style, concepcion says, so you can go into flings or relationships with clarity on what you’re looking for from it. regardless of how you feel about putting a label on it, you want to be on the same page about …

and although it’s something you should discuss with your partner, you may already feel as though the two of you are in an exclusive relationship. but sometimes you and your partner might not be on the same page. keep in mind that although this list can be helpful to reference, the best way to know if you and your partner are in an exclusive relationship is to have a direct and honest conversation with them about it. “one of the …

this casual relationship stage can be fun — but it can also be confusing and frustrating. knowing where you stand when it comes to exclusivity will help you work out what is right for you and what you are looking for in the long term. it may be an ongoing relationship that is purely about sex and has no promise of anything more, says ruth c. white, associate clinical professor at the school of social work at the university of …