With the hot and heavy air of summer comes the hot and heavy joys (and pains) of short-lived romances.
That’s right, I’m talking about summer flings. Our friend’s stories and our favorite movies have told us that summertime is the best time to test drive a relationship. Even science backs this up. During the summer, increased amounts of sunlight drive the production of melatonin and serotonin—the brain’s feel-good chemicals.
For students, summer is usually a time for freedom—no school and no responsibilities—which means there’s more time to socialize.
Summer is also a time to get away. A vacation from school (and your parents) can create opportunities to meet new people, like that adorkable guy selling snow cones on the pier, or that cute girl you saw at the farmer’s market.
There are a seemingly endless number of people to cozy up to during the summer. The snow cone guy, the just-visiting guy, the friend-of-a-friend, the boardwalk girl and the artsy manic pixie dream girl are just a few of the people you can, and probably will, fall in lust with.
Coffee dates and beach hangouts will help you and your fling get to know each other—or get to know each other’s lips. As the two of you spend more time together and get closer. You may even start to feel like you’re falling in love, but that’s just the oxytocin, the brain’s other feel-good chemical, talking.
As the days get shorter, your dates will become less frequent. Those daily calls and texts will turn into quick weekly check-ins before they stop altogether. Your once hot and steamy fling will begin to cool down.
The key to having and enjoying a summer fling is to keep it short, sweet and casual. The summer is only so long and it is a time to slow down, relax and enjoy yourself.
Sure, you and the farmer’s market girl were great together, but we both know that you won’t have time to pick apples with her in the fall. And even though just-visiting guy seemed like “the one,” he has to go back to…wherever it is he came from. Don’t take a fling too seriously, it’s all about having fun.
It’s not surprising that people seem less inhibited and have more fun with each other during the summer months—all of the ingredients for a good time are there. So while the atmosphere heats up this summer, let your love life do the same.
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