The early stages of dating someone can be incredibly fun, but they can also be confusing because it’s not always easy to figure out the other person’s intentions. Do they want something serious or are they just playing around? You can’t change their mind, but you can determine if they’re only looking for something temporary so that you don’t waste any of your precious time. If you notice the guy you’re dating is showing you these signs, sorry, but he’s not looking for commitment.
- He asks you out without a plan. This kind of behavior has “casual relationship” written all over it. If a guy is serious about you, he’ll always make firm plans for when he can see you. If he says you should get together “sometime,” he’s leaving things open-ended. That usually means he wants to stay away from anything too structured. Instead, he just wants you to be available for a casual fling when it suits him.
- He keeps you away from his friends. He date you, but he’ll always try to keep you away from his friends if he doesn’t want a real relationship. Meeting the other person’s friends is usually a step toward a more serious relationship. Most guys know that when they reach that point, it’s hard to avoid giving you the “girlfriend” label. If this isn’t what he wants, he’ll try to keep the two separate for as long as humanly possible.
- He has a bad memory. In fairness, some guys just have a terrible memory. I’ve also met women who are the same – it happens. That being said, if he’s interested in a relationship, he’ll usually remember details about you and make a genuine effort to get to know you. He’ll keep in his mind how you two met and what your first conversations were like. If he has trouble remembering those details, there’s a good chance he has no interest in anything long-term, even he does seem to like you.
- He doesn’t ask about the future. It’s probably obvious to say that when a guy isn’t looking for a relationship, he’s not going to be concerned about the future. This should be easy to sense because a guy won’t ask about your future plans or your relationship goals. It’s not a coincidence that he’s not asking about those things. If he’s willing to get serious, he’ll ask about those things at some point. If he’s not, don’t expect a relationship.
- He just got out of a relationship. Whenever a guy mentions that he’s only recently single, it’s a safe bet that he’s not looking to be part of a couple again anytime soon. Typically, this will be true, although some guys may lie about getting out of a relationship just to lower expectations. This doesn’t mean that he can’t genuinely like you, but it usually means he wasn’t want to get involved in anything serious.
- He seems obsessed with his career. A lot of guys don’t like getting serious about their careers and a relationship at the same time. It has a lot to do with how men compartmentalize their lives. If you get a sense that he’s focused on his professional goals, don’t expect him to become your boyfriend. Even if he seems to like you, remain skeptical until he does something to make you think he wants something serious.
- He only sees you on his schedule. This is the oldest trick in the book for guys who want to keep things casual. After all, relationships are all about making time for the other person. When he doesn’t make time for you, he’s telling you all about his intentions. You can’t be in a relationship with someone who only wants to see you when it’s convenient for him. Even if it’s clear he likes you, if he’s calling all the shots, there’s a limit to how far he’s willing to let the relationship go.
- He keeps his distance. Guys who aren’t interested in a serious relationship know how to avoid letting their emotions get the best of them. They know how to remain emotionally distant, even if it’s clear that they’re into you. If this is the vibe you’re getting, you might as well cut your losses now.
- He resists a label. Guys have a lot of excuses for why they don’t like labels. No matter what excuse they use, they’re really saying they don’t want a serious relationship. The tricky part is that some guys are good at talking their way out of a label while still convincing you that they like you. But if a guy is open to a long-term relationship, there’s no reason for him to resist labeling things. If he tries to weasel his way out of putting a label on your relationship, he doesn’t actually want a relationship.
