Being friends with benefits can be a rather tricky thing. In order to avoid getting hurt, there are certain things you can do in order to avoid getting attached. For one, lay out the ground rules from the start, and make sure that you both are comfortable with them and agree.

Don’t decide to see how things go. If all you want is a friends with benefits relationship, then agree to that because at the end of the day, none of us want to get hurt. If you think you might get attached, then it’s not worth getting into this situation.

It’s also important to be wary of who you chose to enter this kind of relationship with. If it’s someone that has feelings for you already, then that’s a no go. And of course, vice versa, not someone who you have feelings with, or even just think that you might.

Your friends with benefits partner should be part a part of your social life. He should only be there for one specific purpose and don’t make plans together to go get lunch. Don’t extend yourself with them too much, because that’s exactly how feelings develop. It can also be helpful to not show pictures or messages to all your friends, because they will make comments about him and will start to put things into your head.

Make sure not to sleepover, because it just makes things more awkward. Don’t ready into his messages, if he compliments you, don’t go telling your friends and start thinking that it means something. Don’t stalk him on social media, and know that you shouldn’t get mad at him if you see him with another girl, because you’ve made an agreement before hand that this is not an exclusive relationship.