By Marissa
Summer romances – they’re fun, carefree, and spontaneous. If you happen to be a part of one, you may be feeling on top of the world. Without anything like school, sports, and stress affecting your relationship, it’s easy to get wrapped up in your relationship and think that it will never end. Here are some tips to ensure that your romance doesn’t end where it began (in the summer…).
- If you are in an isolated space, make sure to spend time with other people. A common environment for summer romances to blossom is summer camp. If you happen to be spending the whole summer disconnected from civilization and spending time in nature, sparking up a romance with someone may inevitably occur. Since you will constantly be seeing and hanging out with this person, it’s a good idea to set aside some time to see other friends. Even if it’s just for a small amount of time each day, seeing other faces and doing other things will remind you that your partner is not the center of your world. Remember, maintaining your friendships and other relationships, is part of having a healthy romantic relationship.
- Be realistic. This may seem obvious, but too often people get caught up in their summer romance and forget that soon enough they will have to return to the real world. For example, if your summer fling happens to live far away, once you return home, a long-distance relationship may not be ideal. Preparing for the inevitable future will ease the transition back from summer.
- Reflect on your own relationship history (and your partner’s)! Summer can serve as an escape for many people – an escape from school, responsibilities, or past relationships. Before jumping into a new romance with a summer fling, you may want to ask yourself if you’re doing this for the right reason. If you’ve just gotten out of a relationship, you may not be emotionally ready for the beginning of a brand new one. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your partner about his or her past as well! Being honest with each other from the start will create a solid foundation of trust if your relationship does continue in the future.
Whether or not your summer romance lasts, I think the main thing to keep in mind is to just have fun with it. Summer truly is a time to relax, meet new people, and do fun things. Try not to stress out about whether or not your romance will last well beyond summer. If it’s meant to be, it will be, so have fun, but remember to play it safe. If you and your fling decide to be sexually active, remember to always use condoms and if needed, another birth control method!