Are You Ready For An Open Relationship?

Has the recent trend in “open” relationships sparked your curiosity? Are you and your partner weighing the pros and cons of swinging or engaging in other open activities? There are many benefits to being in an open relationship, and much you must take into consideration. 

Defining Your Open Dating Goals

First up on the list of things to do, is to decide what kind of open relationship you want to engage in:

• Are you and your partner going to become swingers?
• Would you like to be part of a thruple?
• Are you looking only for casual sex, or a second relationship?
• Are you looking for a partner who is monogamous, or will you both be open?
• Are you open to dating or hooking up with the opposite sex, same sex, TG or TV?
• Are you interested in group encounters, or one-on-one action only?
• Do you love your partner, but they don’t fulfil your intimate desires—or the two of you simply have different desires?

Finding An Open Partner

Let’s face it, not everyone is down with open dating, so the sooner you bring it up the better. Many people will shoot down the idea or accuse you of being a cheater—but no, open dating is not cheating. It’s just knowing yourself well enough to understand that one person cannot fulfill all of your needs. 

Online Dating Sites For Open Relationships

One of the easiest ways to find an open partner is on a hookup dating website. Yes, you can use the website filters to find open partners on traditional dating sites—but it is easier to find exactly what you are looking for on a hookup dating website. Not only that, but everyone on the site has an appreciation and understanding for what many refer to as an “alternative” lifestyle.

Open Dating And Jealousy

Just because you believe in the concept of open dating, doesn’t mean you are super human. Yes, you may become jealous of your committed partner’s love life outside of the one you share together. And yes, they may be jealous of yours. This is where the importance of clear boundaries and honest discussions comes to play. While occasional jealousy is natural, if it is ongoing—open dating might not be for you. 

It May Be The Best Thing For Your Dating Life

Traditional dating of the opposite sex, in a long-term committed relationship may be the lens in which many will live their life. While this works for many, it certainly doesn’t work for everyone. Our lifespans are far greater than that of generations past, and as we grow, change, and evolve—the person we fell hard for in our 20s may not be all we need in our 40s or 50s. Sometimes, opening up your relationship is the way to make things work. And sometimes, it just won’t work. However, many who go from “traditional” to “alternative” dating find that their current and future commitments are far more honest and fulfilling. 

Open dating isn’t for everyone, but for many—it is the only way to find the commitment they desire, and the intimacy and passion they crave. 

Author profile

Lisa Halpert

Online dating expert

Lisa Halpert is a seasoned online dating expert, offering practical advice and insightful tips to navigate the complexities of digital relationships and find meaningful connections in the virtual world.