Dating is not always smooth sailing; things can get confusing very quickly. Especially if the person you’re dating is playing games. If you’ve been seeing someone for a while but you don’t know where you stand, it might be time to revisit the situation.
You don’t want to push things too far too soon, but you do have a right to know where things stand. Being in the gray area known as “unofficially dating” can be the worst. It’s when you’re spending a lot of time with someone and getting to know each other, but you’re not sure where things are going.
Be quick to act:
To clear things up, you should be familiar with the way people act to fix what’s called a phase of unofficially dating. Knowledge is power! Once you know what to look for, it will be easier to understand the situation.
That’s why we will discuss 5 signs you’re unofficially dating. After we go through the signs, we will give you an idea of what you should do next, in case you feel a bit lost.
5 Signs you’re unofficially dating:
1- You’ve met each other’s friends:
You’ve been dating for a while now and even if you haven’t defined anything, you’ve already met each other’s friends. That’s because, at some level, you’re important to one another and you want to show each other off to the people you love.
Meeting each other’s friends is one step away from meeting each other’s parents and it means you’re important to one another. We don’t introduce people that don’t matter to our inner circle if we don’t think they’ll be sticking around.
So, if the person you’re dating has introduced you to your friends and vice versa, it could mean you’re unofficially dating. Because what else could it mean?
Do you think one of their friends would’ve felt comfortable making a move on you, in this case, since you two are not official? Of course not, and that’s because there’s a silent understanding amongst all that you two could be for one another.
2- You don’t want to date anyone else:
When you’re casually dating, it’s not uncommon to go out with different people. If there’s no commitment, that’s fair game for both people involved. However, if neither of you has the desire to see or be with anyone else, that could mean you’re unofficially dating. You’re into each other, so you both focus on each other instead of seeing what else is out there.
Even though you haven’t expressly defined the relationship, in your minds, you’re committed to each other to a certain extent. That means you like each other and you have no plans of being with other people. Moreover, no one really catches your interest the way this person does.
3- There’s a dash of jealousy:
The unofficially dating stage can be quite the rollercoaster of emotions. So, if you notice someone is paying attention to the person you’re dating or talking to them, you might feel a bit jealous. The other person could also feel a bit jealous if they see that someone else is trying to get you interested in them.
If you find that you or the person you’re dating can be quick to become jealous, that’s a sign that you see each other as more than just casual dates. People who aren’t unofficially dating have no reason to feel jealous of others or even care about that kind of thing.
4- You’re always thinking about them:
When you’re casually dating someone, things are pretty relaxed. You like the person you’re spending time with, but it’s not like you can’t live without them. When you’re unofficially dating, it’s very difficult to stop thinking about the person you’re with.
If they feel the same way about you, they will also have a hard time keeping you out of their mind. When that happens, you spend all day talking to each other and making plans to see other as much as possible. That’s a good sign because it means you’re on the same page even if you haven’t talked about it.
5- You post to each other on social media:
While some people don’t care much about social media, a lot of people like to share their lives online. If you’re both active on social media and you post pictures of each other quite a bit, that’s a sign you’re unofficially dating.
Even if you haven’t defined the relationship, you’re letting everyone else know you’re not available. Additionally, this is a sign that they want to show you off and express how much they like you to everyone else.
What Should You Do Next?
So, what should you do next if you’re unofficially dating? We recommend that you have an honest conversation with the person you’re dating. You should talk to them about how you feel and what you want out of this.
If they’re on the same page, you can continue developing the relationship with more clarity and purpose. If you’re not on the same page, then you’ll be free to move on and find someone who wants the same as you.
In the end, you can check this article out for signs that he’s ready to ask you out. Or you can even check this one out instead for confirmation or signs that he sees you as girlfriend material.