{"id":86,"date":"2019-07-02T19:27:29","date_gmt":"2019-07-02T19:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/?p=86"},"modified":"2019-07-02T19:27:29","modified_gmt":"2019-07-02T19:27:29","slug":"safe-summer-fling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/2019\/07\/02\/safe-summer-fling\/","title":{"rendered":"Having a Safe Summer Fling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Unsplash.com \/\/ Hrvoje Grubisic <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

By: Sarah Hofstedt, CSUN Public Health Intern<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer is almost here! For many college students that means a much-needed break filled with beach trips, outdoor movie nights<\/a>, and making out with acquaintances at pool parties. Some people even get involved in flings<\/a>, which are casual sexual and\/or romantic relationships that typically last between one and four months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

These relationships are not serious, and are mostly focused on sharing fun experiences rather than developing a strong bond. Summer sees plenty of flings because students have more time and are often looking for a way to unwind after a semester of hard work. A summer fling can be exciting and a great way to learn about what you want when you finally do seek out a lasting relationship; however, it is necessary to consider your emotional and physical wellbeing before getting into any sort of partnership, even a casual one. Here are some things to remember when you are taking a road trip with a Manic Pixie Dream Girl:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use\nProtection (Consistently!)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This goes for all sexual relationships,\nregardless of seriousness. Using consistent protective measures during sex\nhelps prevent unplanned pregnancies and the transmission of sexually\ntransmitted infections (STIs). Barrier methods like condoms<\/a> and dental dams<\/a> are inexpensive and effective, and\nare useful in any sexual relationship. Even monogamous couples should be using\nprotection, or at least be getting tested for STIs regularly: monogamous\ncouples are at higher risk for STIs than openly nonmonogamous ones because cheaters are less likely to practice safe sex<\/a>.\nWhether you have one summer fling or a few, make sure you are proactive about\nusing protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decide\nWhat You Want<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you only looking for a one-time hook-up?\nDo you want a date for summer concerts? Are you open to your fling turning into\nsomething more? It is always best to be honest<\/a> right away about what you\nexpect from any relationship. Be upfront about what you want and be prepared\nfor your object of affection to voice their own desires. If they match up, then\nthat\u2019s great! If not, talk about how you can meet in the middle, or thank them\nfor their time and move on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talk\nAbout Stuff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, this goes for all relationships. Speak up<\/a> when they do something that bothers\nyou; you should both be able to discuss your feelings openly and without\njudgment. A fling is also a great time to practice conversations about sex,\nreligion, politics, and other \u201csensitive\u201d topics. Being able to talk about\nthings with someone you are not particularly invested in allows you to explore\nand express your thoughts freely, without the fear that you might scare someone away<\/a>. That way, if and when you\ndo find someone you want to get serious with, you have already started developing\nyour communication skills<\/a> within the context of a\nromantic partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep it\nLight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, remember that this is a fling! It\u2019s\nsupposed to be a fun period for exploration<\/a> and experiencing\nanother person without the pressure of a relationship. Take this time to be mindful<\/a> of happy moments and enjoy them fully.\nHave a good fling!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By: Sarah Hofstedt, CSUN Public Health Intern Summer is almost here! For many college students that means a much-needed break filled with beach trips, outdoor movie nights, and making out with acquaintances at pool parties. Some people even get involved in flings, which are casual sexual and\/or romantic relationships that typically last between one and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":176,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,26],"tags":[46,86,87],"class_list":["post-86","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","category-learn","tag-safety","tag-sex","tag-summer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/176"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.csun.edu\/bewell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}