10 Good (And Bad!) Things To Consider If You're Jumping In To A Summer Fling
Summer lovin' had me a blast ...
Andreas Fidler on Unsplash Summer is that great time of the year that makes us think of things like days at the beach, baseball games, and outdoor barbeque parties. It’s also notorious for what is the known as the "summer fling" (ooh la la!).
There are lots of pros to the summer fling, but there CAN also be downsides to such a quick romance; so be sure to check out our list of pros and cons to decide if this is something that is worth pursuing for you.
A summer fling is great because they tend to be extremely romantic. The weather is warm and there are more activities for you both to do outdoors. Spending the day having a picnic in the park or watching the sunset on a beach is a super-romantic way to pass the time with someone you like. With busy work and life schedules, we could all use a chance to have some genuine romance in our lives.
Con #1: The person you're "flinging" with might end up being a total jerk.
A summer fling is momentary, which also means things are likely to progress faster. They might be all romantic when you first meet, but after actually hooking up, there's always a possibility of their personality taking a 180-degree turn. They went from wooing you to 1:00 a.m. booty calls to completely ignoring you. Even if it's just a fling, no one wants to be treated like that. It can end-up turning a happy experience into a sour memory.
Pro #2: Summer flings help us to live in the present.
It seems like we are in a world in which we are either longing for the past or looking toward the future. A summer fling gives us the opportunity to just enjoy being in the here and now. You know your time together is brief, so you make it a point to embrace the time you do have with that person. You are living in the moment, and that's the best part of summer.
Con #2: But they can also take time away from your friends and family.
Now, this isn't a guaranteed con of a summer fling, since it depends on the individual person, but it has the potential to become one. Because a summer romance can be really exciting, it's also easy to get wrapped up in that fling and neglect your friends and family. Summer is a fantastic time to spend with someone you are interested in, but it's also important to make memories with your loved ones. After all, your fling may be for the summer, but your friends and family will be there for you after.
Pro #3: They are full of positive, fun experiences that will last a lifetime.
In general, summer flings are very positive experiences. You are smitten with someone you have this great connection to. There's also the fact that you are having FUN! You aren't thinking about the stress of work or life, but are instead having a blast spending time with this amazing person.
Con #3: But you might end up finding out you're not the only fling of their summer.
It can be hard to manage several tasks at the same time, let alone several people, but for some, they are totally comfortable having multiple summer flings. The thing about a fling is that it's not necessarily established like a regular relationship. It's supposed to be easy going, but that also leaves some room for two people to not be on the same page when it comes to the monogamy of that summer fling.
You might believe that even though this is a fling, you're the only person they are seeing. Unless you have that conversation with the other person though, there's always the chance that they are seeing other people as well.
Pro #4: There are actually positive health benefits to having a summer fling.
Even though a fling is more about your heart rather than your head, there's actually scientific evidence that shows the health benefits of a summer romance. Things like kissing, sex, lust, and the joy a summer fling gives us can help reduce stress. The negative effects of stress can take a toll on our physical and mental health, so why not embrace a fun way to reduce that stress?
Con #4: You will probably develop feelings (and thus end in heartbreak).
It's easy to confuse a summer fling with real love. The passion and excitement of a fling is usually just a strong sense of lust for someone, but that doesn't mean that we are immune to developing some feelings for that person. It's not hard to see how you could start to have feelings; you meet someone that you are attracted to and love spending time with.
No matter how much you prepare yourself, real feelings have a way of creeping in when we least expect it. The problem with having feelings for your fling is that you may want something more, but maybe they can't provide that for you. This makes getting hurt a real risk to consider.
Pro #5: Summer flings make us feel - and look - young.
Summer flings may have a reputation as something only meant for teenagers, but the truth is that they can happen at any age. Because they are associated with youth, however, they have a way of making us at least feel like a teenager again. Our teen years may have had their ups and downs, but they were also a time when we enjoyed the little things in life, took chances, and lived freely.
Let's be honest, a summer fling can also be a time of having a lot of really great sex, which is known as one of the best ways to keep your skin glowing. Sounds much more fun than just a regular facial.
Con #5: But they are fleeting.
Having an incredible summer fling is like experiencing the world's greatest dessert, only to discover you can't have it again. Flings are not meant to last a long time like a regular relationship, and that's what makes them so special. However, it's also really hard to have this wonderful time, only to have it end so quickly.
Even if your fling lasts for the whole summer, it will still fly by and you'll eventually have to say goodbye.
Jill Zwarensteyn is a writer and Michigan native. When she's not writing, Jill enjoys Zumba class, travel, and referencing classic Seinfeld episodes.