6 Tips For Dating Your Best Friend – Pros And Cons To Know

Dating your best friend can have its perks, but it can also come with its fair share of troubles! No one can understand you better than your BFF, and they probably know all your secrets. That can be a tricky thing when things turn sour. So, it is important to understand how such a shift can affect your friendship and relationship dynamics. This can have major repercussions on your friendship in the long run. On the other hand, the transition may be easy if you have unmatched chemistry and the understanding to resolve things harmoniously. One key way to make this transition successful is through open communication. Share your feelings, lay down the boundaries, and discuss your expectations with each other to navigate the complexities of dating your best friend without losing the friendship. When dating your best friend, you need to be aware of the transformation your core dynamics will undergo. Despite the solid basis you may have with your friendship, a romantic relationship works differently and other factors, like commitments and expectations, arise. At the same time, it is important to not be afraid of risking because, if you really feel that your relationship is something more than a relationship, do not limit yourself and express your feelings. Keep reading to figure out what it is like to date your best friend so you can make an informed decision.

Why Dating Your Best Friend Is A Good Idea

Dating your best friend seems like dating yourself. If things go wrong, they can be easily mended. Here are reasons you can consider it:

1. It Feels Like It’s Meant To Be

You can be yourself around your best friend without worrying about being judged, and both of you can have a great time.

You share everything – from inside jokes about old classmates to playlists – and will never feel bored around each other.

2. You Can Be Honest With Each Other

From your dates gone wrong to things that got you in trouble – your best friend knows it all! They are your confidant, and you can be completely honest with each other. Both of you can discuss your needs from the relationship and decide which way it heads, without any hesitation and second thoughts. Being in a relationship with your best friend makes everything easy – whether it is dealing with differences or solving issues. There is no scope for misunderstandings.

3. Life Changes Quickly And For Good

When you start dating your best friend, life will never be the same. You will be so in sync with each other that it is almost as if your minds are one! It may seem difficult at first. But once you get past the initial awkwardness, dating your best friend can be one of the most incredible experiences of your life. It is comforting knowing that you will always have each other no matter what happens in the future.

4. You Feel Comfortable And Secure

Dating your best friend can be an amazing, fulfilling experience. Knowing that both of you are on the same page brings a sense of comfort and security. Moreover, it also saves you the pain of dating someone new (and risking disappointment). Instead, you can spend more time strengthening the incredible relationship you already share with someone.

5. You Have Shared History

You and your best friend probably have similar memories and shared experiences that help you bond well. You are likely to have seen each other’s ups and downs and know how to face challenges and solve issues together. Besides, you must have a wealth of inside jokes and twin tendencies that will help you keep your relationship vibrant in the long run. This shared past offers insights into each other’s life goals and values, building trust and commitment towards each other.

It is also often much easier to find common ground with your best friend than with someone new. This is because you are able to skip the dating process and bond through shared experiences, mutual interests, and more. Here is an overview of the pros and cons of dating your best friend to help you get a clear idea.

Pros Of Dating Your Best Friend

1. You have already got a solid friendship to fall back on.
2. You can be confident that they won’t abandon you like a stranger.
3. No dating drama (which can be exhausting at times)!
4. They know your strengths and weaknesses and understand you as an individual.
5. They also know everything about your dating history. So, if there are any past mistakes to avoid in the future, your partner can guide you and show a different perspective.
6. They can be with you at a moment’s notice for conversations or to hang out.
7. It is less awkward with your best friend and things are a lot more stress-free.
8. You trust each other blindly and have emotional intimacy.
9. You can resolve conflicts more easily due to your strong friendship, fostering a solid partnership.

Although your best friend may seem like the perfect person to date, it can also be hard to balance a romantic relationship with an otherwise platonic partner. There will always be things that you would want to avoid.

Cons Of Dating Your Best Friend

1. It can sometimes get complicated for people to date their best friend due to stronger commitments and expectations. Further, if one partner is invested more than the other, feelings of jealousy and hurt may creep in and strain the friendship.

Precious, a blogger, shared her bitter experience of dating her best friend. Everything looked perfect when they started their relationship. But after starting to date each other she realized that she had to force her efforts towards making their relationship work. In her blog, she wrote, “I kept pushing and forcing things to work whether I felt great about it or not because he was my best friend. I would mutter to myself “this is supposed to work…right (i)?”

2. Having an emotional connection can inhibit your ability to see the flaws in your partner. As a result, you may end up ignoring the issues, which may pile up and lead to bigger issues.
3. Some may feel that dating your best friend is like betraying the friendship you have developed over time.
4. If anything goes wrong during dating, it can hamper the friendship and affect people in your friend’s circle.

Dating affected the friendship that Precious had with her best friend. She wrote, “For the first time in over 10 years, he didn’t show up on New Year’s Eve and when we crossed over to the new year, I knew I had lost someone dear literally.”

5. There is a potential that you will end up dating for years without any commitment (read marriage) as dating may feel easier.
6. It can also make it difficult to get priorities straight, leading to confusion and misunderstandings.

Quick Tip

You may experience a shift in expectations with the changing dynamics of the relationship. Adjusting to those or even accepting them might seem difficult initially.

If you have your heart set and you want to go out with your best friend, here are some tips on how you both can prosper in the relationship.

Things To Keep In Mind When Dating Your Best Friend

1. Inform Your Common Friends And Siblings

Discuss with other friends and siblings about dating your best friend. This is one of the best ways to help you stay grounded and preserve your friendship.  Keep them in the loop to make the process easier. It also aids in building a solid feedback system.

Quick Tip

It’s a good idea to inform your mutual friends’ groups about your relationship. This can help avoid or navigate any issues that may arise in common friendships.

2. Make Your Relationship Exclusive

After dating for some time, you might be getting serious enough to want to know if this person is “The One.” Do not date other people simultaneously. Instead, figure out how compatible you are with each other.

Being open will make things more real, and this honesty can make dating seem less stressful for both of you. There are no rules to dating, but one of the things you can do to build a relationship is going on non-romantic dates. This will help both of you decide whether dating or friendship is the best option for your situation. Going too fast may put the other person off because it could feel like you are into this too soon.

3. Pay Attention To The Little Things

A relationship is a constant work in progress. It’s not always easy. It can be messy sometimes, but the key to making it last is to go through all of that together. Both of you must be willing to put in the time and effort. The little things matter – even something as simple as listening can make a world of difference.

Listen with your whole heart – not just half-heartedly waiting for your turn to speak – and they will appreciate your concern. Paying attention helps both partners feel loved, safe, and understood. Even if you can’t always patch things up immediately, just listening and being present can be a comforting experience for both of you.

4. Enjoy The Togetherness

Ensure that you treat it like an opportunity for your friendship to develop and have fun. Respect your partner and avoid doing or saying anything that may make them look unappealing to others.

Dating a best friend isn’t always easy, but it can be fun and hilarious when both know each other well and are in the same boat.

5. Don’t Treat It As An Option

Avoid pressuring your friend or rushing into dating just for the sake of it. Don’t do it because your best friend is single, and you cannot find a person to date. A relationship should not be based on convenience. Rather, it should be based on passion, love, and mutual respect. Feeling pressured might make the relationship end in bad faith.

Go on a few dates before you share your feelings openly with each other. Dating partners need to get to know each other better first. Do not continue to date if there’s no compatibility in important aspects like emotional, behavioral, and physical intimacy. Instead, consider finding someone else with whom you can truly connect.

6. Set Your Expectations

Dating your best friend can bring a higher level of happiness. You know them more than anyone and don’t expect anything from them other than their presence. But you need to understand that nobody is perfect. They may not always give back what you want, as much as you need it. Therefore, it is important to set your expectations and boundaries at the beginning of the relationship.

Even a best friend-turned-romantic partner will make mistakes. There will be times when things won’t be rosy. Fighting, hurting one another, and misunderstandings – relational drama can happen. The best way to avoid these issues is by setting the expectations straight and working together to maintain them. Talk to your partner and discuss this clearly. Communication can solve any trouble in paradise.

7. Be Prepared For Changes

Dating your best friend may change the dynamics of your bond with them as a friend in unexpected ways. As you become romantically invested in them, you will develop more expectations and need some boundaries. Your communication styles and the moments you spend together will probably not feel as carefree as before. Be prepared for these changes to adjust to the new relationship better and develop a romantic bond while retaining the strong foundations of your friendship. Openly discuss your feelings to make the transition smoother and avoid misunderstandings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do best friends make good lovers?

While it is not necessary that all friendships lead to romantic relationships, most of them fall in love with their best friend. People who love their best friends enjoy more love, comfort, and commitment.

How do I stop having feelings for my best friend?

Don’t blame yourself. Understand yourself better and maintain distance from your best friend. These may help you stop having feelings for your best friend.

How do you know if your friendship is turning into love?

You may know that your friendship is turning into love if you two start flirting with each other, suddenly increase the frequency of communication, or either of you experience jealousy when the other talks to someone else. There may be some evident signs your friend likes you and these changes can indicate a shift from friendship to romantic feelings.

Can a guy and a girl be best friends without falling in love?

Yes, a guy and a girl can be best friends without falling in love. Such a platonic relationship is often the strongest and most fulfilling bond. It is important to follow the rules of platonic friendship, such as respecting each other’s boundaries, communicating openly, and valuing the friendship for what it is, to maintain this bond without crossing any lines.

Illustration: Tips For Dating Your Best Friend - Pros And Cons To Know

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Discover the path of dating your best friend. Get expert advice, insights, and stories to navigate this unique journey of love. Watch the video and embark on an adventure together!

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