Are you in a situationship? Don’t worry; we had to do some digging to fully understand it, too. But now that we’ve got it down, we’re here to impart our wisdom onto you. Because, let’s face it, gray areas can be tricky. Let’s discuss.
What Is a Situationship?
A situationship entails a romantic or sexual relationship that hasn’t been made “formal” or “official.” It’s a gray area where friendship and intimacy exist. The relationship is typically not moving forward, and you aren’t entirely sure where you stand. A situationship can include a post-breakup rebound that you aren’t ready to commit to, your go-to plus-one that you find attractive, or that person you call now and then for a good time.
How to Tell if You’re In a Situationship
Even though the whole thing is one big gray area, there are some surefire signs of a situationship.
No Labels
While keeping things casual and light can be fun, keeping things undefined can lead to complex emotions. If there aren’t any labels, you may have fallen into a situationship.
No Sign of Long-Term Plans
With a situationship, only short-term plans exist. At best, you may make plans a few weeks out, but last-minute planning is usually a sign of a situationship.
There Are Others
If you or the other person involved is seeing other people, all signs point to a situationship.
You’ve Never Met Their Friends or Family
In a situationship, social lives are kept separate, so there’s a good chance you’ve never met any of their close friends or family members.
Inconsistency Is Key
Erratic feelings, behaviors, plans, texts, and phone calls…nothing is off-limits when it comes to inconsistency in a situationship.
Emotionally Unavailable
If you feel like one of you is unclear about their emotions or hesitant to open up, you probably aren’t wrong. This is typical situationship behavior.
You Feel Anxious, Maybe Even Bored
Anxiety and boredom are normal feelings in a situationship. The anxiety comes from being unsure where you stand, and the boredom comes from the lack of structure within the relationship.
The Pros and Cons of a Situationship
Here’s a trusty list of the pros and cons of being in a situationship.
Pros:
- You get to enjoy the thrill of the chase because there is always a lingering “will we/won’t we” feeling.
- There is no pressure. No pressure to hang out, remember anniversaries, meet their friends and family, etc.
- Situationships are easy to break off.
- Zero obligations. (Remember, this works both ways!)
Cons:
- There is no commitment.
- Situationships can potentially ruin a friendship.
- There is no moving forward or future planning. For many, this is a deal breaker; for others, it could be a positive thing.