How to Keep Your FWB Interested in You

Co-authored by Supatra Tovar, PsyD, RD and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 24, 2023 References

An easy-going friends with benefits (FWB) situation with no strings attached: what could be better? Keeping your FWB interested in you ensures that you keep having good, clean fun with each other for as long as you’d like to. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about a FWB situation so you can keep the dynamic going successfully.

1

Keep emotions out of the relationship.

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A casual, no-strings-attached dynamic is key to a FWB relationship. If you can, try to keep your emotions in check, and keep things platonic with your partner.^{[1]
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Research source} If you do start developing feelings for them, talk to them about it to see if they feel the same way.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Supatra Tovar, PsyD, RD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY #31949), Registered Dietitian, & Fitness Expert

Expert Interview}
- A friends with benefits situation can be tricky, and they aren’t for everyone. If you’re finding that you attach a lot of emotions to sex, this dynamic might just not be for you (and that’s okay).

2

Share your fantasies with each other.

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Different positions and toys can spice up your hookups. If you think your FWB might be getting a little tired of the routine, ask them if they’re comfortable trying something new. Or, see if they have anything new they want to try. This will keep them interested in you long-term, and it’s fun for you, too.^{[3]
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Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public

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- You never have to do anything that you don’t want to, but try to keep an open mind. If you’ve never tried something before, you might just like it!

3

Give them space outside the bedroom.

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Being clingy might send the wrong message to your FWB. Since you’re not in a relationship with them, you probably won’t be in constant contact. Try to keep your texts and calls to a minimum, and reach out if you want to set up a hookup time or make a plan to hang out.^{[4]
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- Don’t be alarmed if you don’t hear from your FWB for a while. People get busy, and they might have other things going on, like work or school.
- If you find yourself wanting to talk to them more and more every day, you could be developing feelings for them. If that’s the case, talk to your FWB to see what their feelings are and what you might do about your relationship.

4

Keep your relationship private from friends and family.

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Taking your FWB as a plus-one can blur the lines of your relationship. While it might seem like a fun idea to grab your friend and take them to a party or a family gathering, this can start to move more into relationship territory. If you want to keep things strictly platonic, hang out with your FWB alone, not with other people.^{[5]
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- You can talk to your friends about your FWB, but don’t mention them to your parents or relatives. They’ll probably assume that you two are dating, which can be tricky to deal with.

5

Focus on being a good friend.

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Your friendship will ultimately keep you two together. While your relationship might be mostly about having sex, you can also be a friend to your hookup partner. Ask them about their day, offer advice, and be a listening ear when they need one.^{[6]
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- This will help avoid feeling too transactional. If you can talk to each other like friends, you’ll probably have a better sex life, too.

6

Go out on friend dates, not romantic dates.

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Hang out with your FWB like you would with a friend. This means going out to eat, watching movies together, and just generally hanging out platonically. What you don’t want to do is anything romantic: candlelit dinners or nighttime stargazing sessions are a no-go. That way, you’ll keep the boundaries of the relationship clear while still having fun together.^{[7]
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- Try inviting your hookup out to breakfast the next day as a fun way to connect without a sexual component.

7

Keep cuddling to a minimum.

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Cuddling is fun, but it’s more of a serious relationship activity. After you and your FWB have sex, feel free to lounge around with each other and enjoy each other’s company. However, try not to cuddle too much or fall asleep cuddling, since that could lead to developing feelings for each other.^{[8]
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- In general, you don’t want to ask your FWB to spend the night unless you two have just had sex. Sex-less sleepovers are usually reserved for couples who are dating, not friends with benefits.
- Your main priority here is preserving your friendship at all costs.^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Supatra Tovar, PsyD, RD
  Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY #31949), Registered Dietitian, & Fitness Expert
  
  Expert Interview} If you blur the boundaries of your relationship too much, your friendship could suffer.

8

Groom yourself regularly.

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Keep yourself clean to make sex enjoyable for the both of you. Before you invite your FWB over, spend a few minutes in the shower. If you have a vagina, use warm water to gently cleanse your vulva.^{[10]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} If you have a penis, use soap and warm water to gently clean it.^{[11]
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Research source} The better you smell and look, the better your sex life will be.
- Shaving is optional, but some people have a preference for it. If you aren’t sure, you can ask your partner what they like.

9

Talk about exclusivity.

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Set clear guidelines about the relationship to avoid hurt feelings. Some people in a FWB situation are completely exclusive, and they don’t date other people. Others are fine with seeing other people, and don’t mind if their partner dates around. Talk to your FWB before you start the relationship to see what they’re comfortable with, and tell them what you’re okay with, too.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Supatra Tovar, PsyD, RD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY #31949), Registered Dietitian, & Fitness Expert

Expert Interview}
- “Are you planning to date other people? I don’t mind if you do—since I’m not looking for anything exclusive right now, I was probably going to keep dating other people, too.”
- “Even though we’re just friends with benefits, I’d feel more comfortable if we weren’t sleeping with other people. It just helps me to know that we’re having safe sex.”

10

Practice safe sex.

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Being safe shows your FWB that you’re a reliable sexual partner. Not only will this keep them interested in you, but it keeps you both safe, too.^{[13]
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Expert Source

Supatra Tovar, PsyD, RD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY #31949), Registered Dietitian, & Fitness Expert

Expert Interview} Be sure to talk about protection, like using condoms or dental dams, to protect yourself from STDs.^{[14]
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Research source} This is especially important if you two aren’t exclusive, since having multiple sexual partners can lead to a higher risk of STDs and STIs.
- Talking about safe sex can feel a little awkward, but it’s an important conversation to have. Start it off by saying something like:
- “Could we talk really quick about what we’re gonna use for protection? I’m on birth control, but I’d like to use condoms as well, just to be safe.”
- “I know we’re exclusive, but I’d feel more comfortable if we used condoms and dental dams, at least at first.”

11

Set an end date for the relationship.

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A FWB situation can’t continue forever, and that’s okay. Talk with your FWB about when the relationship might end: is it when one of you finds a new partner? Is this just a summer fling? Knowing when to end the relationship will keep your boundaries in place, and it will make you both feel more secure in the situation you have now.^{[15]
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- “I’m having a ton of fun with you right now, but I am still looking for a serious relationship elsewhere. I want you to know that if I find someone I could see a future with, I’ll probably end our situation.”
- “I really like what we’ve got going on right now, but it’s probably just a summer thing for me. I just want you to be prepared for that.”

Join the Discussion...

What does "friends with benefits" REALLY mean?

WikiBadgerDiver849

So........I been fooling around with a friend lately and I'm not sure what our relationship is, but i think it qualifies as "Friends with benefits." But I am wondering......what exactly does "friends with benefits" mean, technically speaking? Of course I've heard this term before but from a practical standpoint I don't know how it works: what are the "rules" (if there are any)? Can you be exclusive with a fwb? Am I just setting myself up for heartache?