What Does a Casual Relationship Mean to a Guy and Your Future?

Dating is hard! Ever wonder, what does a casual relationship mean to a guy and for our future? The chances are you won’t like the answer!

What does a casual relationship mean to a guy? Most women ask this question when they’re with a guy who doesn’t want to commit.

It basically means it’s not serious. Yep, it’s that simple!

Remember, guys are not as complex as women. Guys don’t overthink and overanalyze, they are what they are. You could argue that this way of thinking makes dating far easier, because you know where you stand. Everything is transparent. Unfortunately, it’s not the case! One guy’s idea of a casual relationship will be different to the next guy. So on and so on.

We’re all different and have different takes on situations and general terms. [Read: The brilliant tips you need to know for a casual relationship]

Know what you want in a relationship

What do you want from a relationship? It is important to understand this clearly. The reason? Because if you are in a casual relationship with a guy and what we tell you isn’t what you want, it’s time to leave.

It’s that simple.

The bottom line—dating is hard, and it’s so full of twists and turns and misunderstandings. It’s hard to imagine how so many people have ended up in successful marriages and long-term relationships!

The good news is that it can and does work. You need to be clear in terms of what you want, and finding someone who wants the same thing.

Sounds easy, right? [Read: Important new relationship boundaries you should be talking about]

What is a casual relationship?

Before we get onto what this whole thing means to a guy, let’s pinpoint what a casual relationship actually is.

A casual relationship can be exclusive or not. This totally depends on the two people involved. It is also simply that two people who like to spend time together, and are doing so, without any pressure or label on that relationship. It’s not even a solid relationship, more a friendship with benefits.

That is how most guys see casual relationships—friendships with certain sexual benefits.

Of course, some casual relationships can be little deeper than that with feelings involved, but the main theme throughout this type of arrangement is that there is no firm partner label. Things have not reached that stage. Also, there is no expectation that they will or won’t.

Everything is, basically, very casual!

Now, casual dating is a perfectly fine and acceptable way to enjoy spending time with someone, provided both members of that relationship are on the same page, i.e. they’re both happy with being casual and not serious. If one partner wants a little more, there can be problems.

Casual relationships don’t usually have strong feelings attached to them. While the two involved may care about each other, there isn’t love. When one person starts to catch serious feelings, the relationship either needs to move onto the next level naturally, or it needs to end.

It’s not unusual for people in casual relationships to want more and end up being hurt in the long run. [Read: All the rules for keeping a casual relationship casual]

So, what does a casual relationship mean to a guy?

We cannot generalize here, because every guy is different. On the whole, a casual relationship is a non-serious arrangement spending time with someone they like. Sex is quite often involved, probably 99.9% of the time.

Again, that’s a perfectly fine arrangement if both parties are happy with it and don’t want progression. The problem arises when the status of the relationship isn’t defined or communicated.

As a woman, I’ve been in more than one dating situations when I thought something was happening. And it turned out not to be. For instance, I thought a casual relationship I was in, was actually heading towards something more serious. I believed that the casual relationship stage was just the initial stages of dating, and it would naturally evolve. It never did.

It turned out that the guy only ever wanted to the casual side of things and never had any intention for anything more. [Read: Why do guys only want to hook up with me? And all you want is a boyfriend!]

So, what does a casual relationship mean to a guy?

Can you see how someone could easily get hurt in this kind of situation? Communication is key. Take your conversation at face value. It’s no good thinking, oh, maybe he’ll fall in love with me eventually. If he’s told you that he does not want a relationship at all, believe him.

To a guy, a casual relationship is about getting all the major perks of having a girlfriend or boyfriend, without adding commitment to the recipe. Some guys don’t like commitment, just like some girls don’t. When the “C” word comes into the equation, many run for the hills. Sometimes a guy is in a casual relationship which is clearly more serious, but he just doesn’t want to admit it and put a label on it.

We said guys aren’t complex, but I’ll also take my statement back! All humans are complex! [Read: 16 signs your hookup has feelings for you… and you just want a fling!]

Are casual relationships healthy?

In many cases, yes, a casual relationship can be extremely healthy for both partners involved, if they’re both sure they want the same thing. If they need some time after a serious relationship and aren’t ready for a commitment, but they also don’t want to spend time alone, this type of arrangement can be very rewarding.

Both partners get someone to go to events with, someone to go out with at the weekends, someone to have sex with *possibly*, and someone to talk to. But there’s no pressure of commitment. This can be extremely refreshing and freeing for many. It’s personal choice.

On the other hand, there are an equal number of people who don’t find the right amount of security in a casual relationship. If the relationship isn’t exclusive *because there is no 100% rule in these types of relationships* then some people may start to feel cheated on, when in reality they’re not being cheated on at all. [Read: Dating vs. Relationship: 14 signs to know your real status]

Communication is key

Communication is the vital part of a casual relationship. It’s the only way you’ll 100% know what a casual relationship means to your guy. We’re all different, after all!

Of course, many serious relationships are born from casual relationships. If you watch Hollywood rom-coms you’ll see endless stories about the friends who became more. Never go into a casual relationship with any type of expectation. [Read: 17 sordid signs you’re just a hookup and nothing more to him]

Does a casual relationship to a guy mean that he can go out and sow his wild oats? Basically, have his cake and eat it? In some cases, yes, and in some cases, no. A conversation is the only way you’ll ever really know!

[Read: Why casual dating is the best thing ever]

What does a casual relationship mean to a guy? It means he has someone by his side, without a commitment, without a label, and without pressure.