10 Things to Avoid When Interacting Your Crush

Having a crush can send your emotions into overdrive. The nervous excitement of liking someone new is thrilling. But it can also make you second-guess your every move. As an expert on relationships and romance, I’ve counseled countless people on interacting with crushes. Through their experiences and my own, I’ve learned what behaviors to avoid when forging new connections.

In this guide, I’ll outline key pitfalls to steer clear of when cultivating a crush. My hope is to spare you unnecessary stress and heartache. With care and wisdom, romantic interest can blossom into reciprocal affection. By avoiding desperate antics, you give organic bonds space to form. This knowledge has enriched my life immensely. Now, I pass it on so you can navigate crushes with grace.

The Urgency Trap: Why Coming on Too Strong Backfires

The excitement of liking someone new makes you want to plunge ahead at full speed. But restraint is vital early on. Coming on too intensely can terrify the object of your affection. In your eagerness, you risk stampeding right over the boundaries of someone still getting to know you.

When I was in college, my friend Stacy fell hard for a guy in her physics class. She constantly texted him memes and inside jokes. She spent hours crafting flirty Snapchats to send daily. When he was too busy studying to meet up, Stacy showed up at his dorm with takeout food as a “study break surprise.” Her over-the-top efforts didn’t win him over. Instead, she scared him off completely.

I understood Stacy’s impulse to bombard her crush with attention. When you want someone, it’s tempting to go into overdrive trying to make them like you back. But coming on too strong telegraphs desperation. It also makes the other person feel smothered. Attraction needs breathing room to develop naturally.

Next time you’re eager to talk, text, and spend time with a crush, pause first. Consider if you’re crowding their space. Show interest, but resist the urge to overrun. By giving your crush room, you allow genuine emotional bonds to form.

Dangerous Daydreams: The Risks of Fantasizing Prematurely

Imagining romantic futures with a new crush is exciting. But don’t let vivid daydreams sweep you away just yet. Verbalizing fantasies too soon can make hopeful visions feel more like unrealistic expectations.

My friend James learned this lesson the hard way in college. He met a great girl in his philosophy class and instantly pictured their lives together. After only a few dates, he started talking about the house they would buy and the kids they would have someday. His presumptuous comments completely freaked her out. James’ innocent fantasies weren’t actually shared hopes – they were just his own wishes projected onto someone he was still getting to know.

Of course, mental images about crushing on your crush will pop up as you get to know them. Just keep them as your private daydreams for now. Vivid scenarios of possible futures are normal when feelings develop. But sharing these misunderstands the current reality: you and your crush are still exploring a connection. Take it slowly by focusing on the present. As you build a real foundation, you’ll know better if those fantasies can become actual plans.

Mixed Messages Lead to Muddled Feelings

We’ve all been on the receiving end of romantic mixed signals. One day, your crush flirts and chats with you easily. But the next time you see them, they act totally indifferent. This hot and cold behavior is frustrating and confusing when you’re trying to get to know someone. Unfortunately, many of us fall into the trap of unintentionally sending mixed signals ourselves.

I witnessed a classic case of mixed messaging between my friends Danielle and Matt in college. Danielle liked Matt but struggled to convey that consistently. Some days, she dressed up cute, laughed at all his jokes, and found excuses to chat with him for hours. But other times, she acted totally aloof, barely acknowledging him. When Matt finally asked Danielle on a real date, she declined, saying she just wanted to be friends. Her back-and-forth signals thoroughly baffled and hurt Matt.

Before interacting with your crush, check in with yourself. 

Determine how you truly feel so you can communicate it clearly. Flirting one day and cold-shouldering the next is unfair whiplash to the poor recipient. Save the games for sports time – romance requires honesty and consistency.

Playing Too Cool: Why Feigning Disinterest Backfires

Some dating advice insists the best strategy is to act totally aloof and indifferent at first. By playing “hard to get,” you hope to intrigue love interests and make them work for your attention. But feigning disinterest can easily cross the line into actual apathy. And there’s nothing appealing about someone who acts like they don’t care about you at all.

My friend Louise found this out when she started seeing a coworker named Zack. Louise liked Zack but was shy about showing it. When they hung out, she didn’t ask him questions or express much interest. Zack started to think Louise didn’t actually enjoy spending time together. So, he stopped reaching out to initiate plans.

Louise came to me confused. She had purposefully played it cool around Zack but now feared she’d gone too far. Her detached demeanor had communicated utter disinterest. We discussed balancing waiting for the other person to make a move by giving clear signals of mutual liking. She didn’t need to smother Zack, but she couldn’t ignore him either. Finding that middle ground requires honesty about how you feel.

The Cost of Pretense: Why Faking It Doesn’t Work

It’s easy to think you need to transform into someone cooler, funnier, or more attractive to win your crush’s heart. But putting on a mask is unsustainable long-term. Eventually, your genuine self will be revealed. And nobody wants to feel like someone is faking it just to impress them.

My friend Jake learned this when he started pursuing a girl named Amy. Jake was artsy and quirky. But Amy was a star athlete with a preppy fashion sense. Thinking he had to match her style to make Amy like him, Jake traded his vintage tees for button-downs and chucks for boat shoes. He name-dropped sports teams and feigned interest in pop music he didn’t actually like.

Initially, Amy found Jake’s new preppy vibe intriguing. But the more time they spent together, the more his true personality shone through. Amy could tell Jake’s frat boy outfit was just a costume. When she finally asked why he was pretending to be someone he wasn’t, Jake came clean. He admitted he thought a makeover would win Amy over but knew deep down it wasn’t sustainable. Amy confessed she’d rather date the real Jake, quirks and all.

The Jealousy Trap: Why Envy Can Backfire

Few things feel worse than seeing your crush laughing with someone else. Jealous pangs are inevitable when you have feelings for someone new. But don’t let envy call the shots. Acting possessive quickly sabotages budding bonds. If you haven’t had “the talk” defining your relationship yet, your crush isn’t doing anything wrong by chatting with others.

My friend Sara learned this the hard way when she first started hooking up with a guy from work named Kyle. Though they weren’t officially together, Sara felt jealous watching Kyle talk and text other girls. She started grilling Kyle on his interactions with female coworkers and friends. When Kyle maintained he had every right to keep things casual, Sara picked a fight, demanding to know why he wouldn’t commit. Her jealous interrogation tactics backfired terribly. Kyle cut her off completely after that.

I coached Sara on acknowledging but managing her jealousy in healthier ways. She expressed remorse for lashing out at Kyle before they’d even discussed being exclusive. Learning to process envy mindfully, not confrontationally, improved her confidence. Sara avoided jealousy traps in future relationships by focusing on clear communication over knee-jerk reactions.

Get Out of Your Head: Why Overthinking Backfires

When you’re crushing hard, it’s easy to obsessively analyze every interaction. But overthinking your exchanges does more harm than good. You can’t decipher someone’s feelings based solely on minuscule behaviors. And fixating on awkward moments projected confidence, not making you more attractive.

My friend Vivian tended to obsess over every social encounter. After talking with a new crush, she’d replay the conversation for hours. Vivian would become convinced something she said sounded foolish or that the guy didn’t really like her after all. In reality, Vivian came across as smart and fun to those she talked to. Her over-analysis led to unnecessary stress and made her act more awkward.

I worked with Vivian on redirecting her mental spirals and being kinder to herself. She practiced self-affirmations and focused on enjoying social connections instead of fixating on imperfections. Vivian also committed to expressing her interest clearly instead of just reading perceived signs from him. Her refreshed mindset took off the pressure so organic bonds could form.

In Closing: Nurturing Budding Romance Intentionally

Few endeavors require more care and wisdom than navigating a new romance. When handled gracefully, exciting connections blossom. By avoiding desperate antics, you give affection an open field to grow in. With patience and compassion for yourself and others, relationships flourish organically. Avoiding missteps prevents regret. But mistakes still offer worthwhile lessons. Use these experiences as inspiration to keep learning and loving. Approach romance as a collaborative dance, not a solo sport to “win.” May this guide grant you fresh courage to connect with care. The rest will unfold as it’s meant to.