Casual dating seems to be the norm nowadays, but it wasn’t always like this. This is why people are turning to casual dating instead of commitment.
I’m no stranger to the world of casual dating. If you ask just about every single other individual in their early 20s, you shouldn’t be surprised to hear them say the same thing. Casually dating is the norm for us.
Casual dating in a nutshell
Casual dating is basically the act of what many millennials would just call “dating.” For those of you who aren’t sure what the difference is, casual dating means you go on a bunch of dates with someone but don’t necessarily have a committed relationship.
Meaning you don’t guarantee them your attention and presence as much as you would if you were in an actual relationship with them. Many people are finding this way of finding “the one” a much better alternative.
This is why casual dating is more popular now more than ever
As the world becomes more and more accepting of different ways of living, younger generations are taking full advantage of this by casually dating people rather than jumping right into a relationship.
There are a lot of different reasons why people do this instead of fully committing to the first person catching their fancy. Here’s why people are focused on casual dating now more than ever before.
#1 They have more freedom. Casual dating gives you the most amount of freedom while still having someone to please you and keep you warm at night. You can go about your life just as you normally would—free as you can be—and not have to worry about upsetting your boyfriend or girlfriend because they’re technically not labeled.
#2 They can meet a lot of new people. Casual dating is best for getting to know the most amount of people in the shortest amount of time. If you’re in a relationship, you really only meet people interconnected with your partner or your friends. That’s far too limiting.
#3 They learn what they like in a person better. Casual dating allows you to meet a lot of DIFFERENT types of people. That being said, you get to interact on an intimate level with a lot of different personality types and you can better decipher which qualities you really want in someone long-term. Think of it like practice for the big game.
#4 It’s easier to leave when they’ve had enough. I think you’ll find there are far more men that want to casually date than there are women, and this reason is primarily why. When you’re not fully committed to someone, it’s really easy to cut those ties and leave without as much drama.
#5 Focusing on their career is more important than finding a life partner. This is especially true for people in their 20s. In casual dating, they’re still getting the human contact and intimacy they desire, but they’re able to put 100% of their efforts into their job without the distraction of a relationship.
Since more and more people want to make sure their career is solidified before diving into a real, lifelong relationship, casual dating seems to be the best way to do it.
#6 You can see a lot of different people at a time, so you won’t get bored. I think I struggled with boredom and dating for the longest time. I just got sick of the person I was in a relationship with and moved on. Casual dating keeps things exciting and new all the time, so you won’t get bored.
#7 Reduces the amount of jealousy in the “relationship.” If you’re casually dating someone and all parties are aware there isn’t really a commitment to the two of you as a couple, then there shouldn’t be any jealousy.
If you’re like me, jealousy is the single worst thing about being with anyone. It’s volatile and can ruin almost anything good in a person. So by casually dating, you’re eliminating this debilitating emotion that can get out of hand in a real relationship.
#8 They just want the fun of a relationship without the hardships. Just like there isn’t nearly as much jealousy, there’s also less of everything difficult about a relationship. Basically, people are focused on casual dating now because they reap all the benefits of a relationship without having to deal with the struggles.
#9 *For the ladies* Free meals. Hell, I’ll go on five dates a week if that means I’ll get my dinner paid for every night. While this may seem like a selfish and shallow reason to date casually, it is a reason some girls do it.
Although not all women get their meals paid for during dates—some pay for the whole meal—it is rather customary for the guy to pay for the dinners until a relationship has been established.
#10 You can learn what you like in bed. It’s not just about finding what you like in a person, it’s also about finding what works well for you in the bedroom. You can’t expect to live your life never knowing about a certain trick a person can do that can completely blow your mind. You’ll learn exactly what it takes to drive you crazy, so you can find that in a long-term partner.
#11 Casual dating lets you separate your dating and personal life. When you’re in a full-on committed relationship, these aspects of your life often overlap and can cause chaos within them all if one is out of place.
In casual dating, you’re eliminating this chaos. You don’t even have to ever introduce the person you’re casually seeing to anyone in your circle. They can stay completely out of your personal life other than interaction with you.
#12 It saves a LOT of your time. Casual dating is great for going on a few dates during the week and then spending almost no time with them the rest of the time. This is a huge time saver compared to just hopping into a relationship and being almost forced to spend a few nights a week with them. Say goodbye to binge watching your favorite Netflix series.
#13 You can still be 100% into all your favorite hobbies. As you begin to get into a serious, committed relationship, you have to sacrifice a few things that take up your time so you can give that time to your boyfriend or girlfriend.
But when you’re just casually dating, you don’t have to do this at all and can keep all of your same hobbies without sacrificing the things that make you happy.
#14 They can’t dictate anything that you do. I mean, they can suggest you wear a skirt that’s a tad bit longer, but they really have absolutely no say in what you do, wear, and say. You’re your own person when you casually date versus being part of a unit in a relationship.
#15 You don’t have anyone to influence important life decisions. Most people who casually date are at a point in their life where they have a lot going on and a lot of opportunities coming their way. By casually dating, they’re eliminating the need to factor someone else’s feelings into any life altering decisions they may need to make.
Now you can see why so many people are focused on casual dating now more than ever. With all casual dating has to offer versus hopping right into a relationship, it’s really easy to understand.