Plan to see friends or family most days of the week. The more fulfilling, loving friendships you have in your life, the less desperate you will be for romantic connection, so that you can pursue it at a more patient pace.
Working on hobbies will also give you something to think about besides your crush, which can be very therapeutic if you’re quite love-struck.
Exercise is a great stress-reliever. Next time you’re feeling heartbroken about a date-gone-wrong, try hitting the gym instead of watching TV. You might be surprised at what a difference it makes!
Getting enough sleep is a simple form of self-love. Think of it as a gift you can give yourself every night, a reminder that you care about yourself. The more you practice self-love, the more you’ll realize that you are worthy of love from other people.
Better yet, leave your phone at home when you go out with your friends, or turn it off when you’re about to watch a movie, or go to the gym. Maybe you’ll come back and see that your crush has texted, in which case you can text them back, without having to force yourself to wait.
Instead, say, “Want to go out for dinner this week?” You don’t have to explicitly say the word “date. ” You can wait for them to do that, maybe after a few “hang-outs. ” Same goes for asking out somebody you’ve been admiring from afar. Try to avoid saying, “I’ve been crushing on you for the past year,” and instead say, “Hey, do you want to go see the new Spiderman movie this weekend?” This takes the pressure off.
If they’re really not getting the idea, you can go in for a hug. They’ll probably take the hint.
You don’t want to pretend not to like your crush, because they might give up entirely. Instead, playing hard to get is about giving them hints, without giving yourself entirely away.
This will make you feel absolutely confident that they mean it, and then you can reciprocate. Once they actually say, “I love you,” don’t hold out on them to play hard to get. That’s too mean! If you love them too, say it.
Instead of going into a date thinking, “will they like me?” think, “will I like them?” Assume that they’re going to like you, because you’re wonderful. Now it’s just up to you to decide if they’re worth your time. This mindset can make dating feel like a fun shopping trip for a good match, instead of a stressful exam. [11] X Research source
If you’re really in love with your crush, and don’t want to date anybody else, then make lots of plans with your friends and family. Your crush will see that you’re a person who a lot of people love.
Another great option is to look back at your old high-school yearbook or old birthday cards, and read all the kind things people have written about you. Other people can often see your true beauty more easily than you can.
