I don't have to tell you that dating today is the most complicated it's ever been. Anyone who owns a phone knows that truly connecting with someone—and seeing them consistently enough to build an actual, exclusive relationship (gasp)—is tougher than an overcooked steak. But that's where dating rules come in: When you have guardrails in place to help you stay in your lane and protect you from less straightforward souls, the road to finding The One becomes much easier to lds singles
Of course, everyone should have their own set of dating rules, cherry-picked to their own wants and needs. Ideally, these rules will push you toward healthy relationships and pull you away from what could become one-sided or toxic ones (or not relationships at all, a.k.a. situationships), in order to save you time, energy, and lots of conflicting emotions. Keep in mind that sometimes the rules that are most crucial for you to follow through on might be the ones that are the least fun to keep, so try not to blow off your own dating rules just because you find them challenging. You put them in place for a reason—trust yourself, girl!
Now, if you're struggling to figure out your own dating rules, I might be able to help you out. I coach a lot of women (and men!) on how to cultivate a healthy dating life, because unfortunately, you can't depend on Cupid to make all the magic happen (if only it were that simple...). These are my top 11 dating rules to consider in this wild world of modern romance. Choose the rules that work for you, ditch the ones that don't, and of course, experiment as needed to find your own. There's no right or wrong here.