Friends with Benefits Series: Do's and Dont's

While a friends with benefits relationship may seem exciting and you may want to just "go with the flow," don't!

In order to have a successful friends with benefits relationship, you need to be cautious and aware.

Here are some tips:

Finding the Right Friend to have benefits with:
1. Make sure you're comfortable with the guy/girl (from now on, I will just use he). He needs to be someone you have fun with, but you can also talk to, especially if things aren't turning out the way you want.

2. He must be single or in an open relationship.

3. I recommend not going for your ex, especially if it was a serious relationship or you got your heart broken.

4. Do not choose the guy who rejected you in the relationship department.

5. I also would not recommend someone who you are in a professional relationship with (such as a boss, or maybe you're the boss.. not good!)

The Sex Part:

1. Use protection; be safe

2. Get tested and ask him to get tested too.

3. Do not cuddle, snuggle, or be romantically intimate before, during, or after.

4. Please, no holding hands!

5. Keep it at JUST SEX. After all, that's what it is.

In the friend realm...

1. Do not be intimate in public (you should not be intimate at all).

2. Just because you're having sex, doesn't mean you need to talk about it publicly.

3. I would not recommend candle-lit dinners, or obvious couple/relationship dates.

4. There should be NO spending the night.

Problems brewing?

1. If you're developing feelings, get out!

2. If he admits feelings and you do not feel the same, end it.

3. Good sex is not worth a good friendship (even though it may seem tempting).

4. Communicate any problems. Do not assume you know.

5. While you are friends, it shouldn't be someone (like a best friend). So you shouldn't be calling, "just to say hi." If you don't have a good reason, put the phone down.

6. If you're not having fun, screw the fwb relationship, not the guy.

Other tips

1. Be open with what you want from the start. Communication is key. If he doesn't want the same thing, then you shouldn't share the same bed.

2. Stick to the rules. If they were good from the start, there is no reason to change them. If you're unhappy, leave the relationship, don't try to morph the rules to your liking, especially if you haven't communicated this to the guy.

3. If you find someone with dating potential, end the fwb with the other guy. You do not want to create a mess, so make a clean break.

4. Remember, if it's getting too heavy, get the hell out of there!