ADVICE
Watch Out for These Types of Situationships
Adil Janbyrbayev on Unsplash
The holiday season is in full swing, which means cuffing season is well underway. For those unaware, the term refers to people partnering up during the fall and winter seasons. This phenomenon is especially popular in the Northern Hemisphere.
Let’s say you’re surrounded by happy couples, and you seem to be the only single person in your orbit. This may make you feel alone and lonely. And because of that, you may find yourself yearning for a partner.
That yearning may lead you to a situationship.
I’ve already covered what situationships are and how painful they can be. You may have experienced being in one yourself. But did you know that there’s more than just one type?
Here are some of the most common types of situationships. You may be surprised at their inner workings.
Type #1: Friends with Benefits
This type is a tale as old as time. You’ve seen this arrangement play out in reel and real life.
The friends-with-benefits setup is all about physical intimacy. Your friendship’s essence and strength are still alive and well, but physical closeness is turned up a notch. You get to explore intimacy without its complicated emotional aspects.
With that said, this situationship type isn’t for everyone. It emphasizes one of the strictest situationship rules: keeping feelings on a leash. When you end up falling for your friend, things may go downhill from there.
Type #2: The Safety Net
Seeing so many couples around you can ignite pressure. This can lead you to look for familiar feelings. As a result, you may find yourself looking for old flames.
You may wonder why some singles call on their old flings. The reason? Reliving previous dynamics is easier than building new ones with strangers.
For example, you’ve bumped into an ex in a period of loneliness. Since you two happen to be single and available, you partner up for the holidays to avoid peer pressure. Is this a good idea? Only time will tell you the answer.
Josh Felise on Unsplash
Type #3: The Shield
Our loved ones only want our happiness. Sometimes, however, their means don’t justify their ends.
We all know they usually mean well when they ask you about your love life. Yet at the same time, it can get annoying when they pry. The way they frame their sentences doesn’t help either. Who wouldn’t be upset hearing something like, “Why don’t you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?”
That embarrassment leads some of us to enter situationships. Unfortunately, they often serve as shields from further scrutiny. When they’ve served their purpose, they’re thrown into the forgotten pile of flings, never to be remembered again.
Type #4: Convenience
Sometimes, we feel a certain pull toward specific people because of their proximity. They’re always there when we need someone to reach out to.
Do you need to call in a favor? They’ve got you. A shoulder to cry on in drunken nights? One call/text is all they need. Regardless of your circumstances, they seem to be your person in shining armor.
Many of us have seen (or been in) our share of convenient situationships. And sadly, they don’t always have happy endings.
Type #5: Right Person, Wrong Timing
As cliché as this sounds, some of us have ill-timed situationships with great people. Things are going great, yet an expiration date looms like a dark cloud threatening to rain over you.
Reasons behind such expirations vary, from practicality to external disapproval. As much as you want to keep the wheel spinning, you two know that the ride has to end at some point. Call it a tragic affair.
Have you figured out which types of situationships apply to you? Regardless of your circumstances, always remember to look out for yourself while enjoying things. You can have fun and guard your heart while you’re at it.
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