How To Not Get Played? 9 Dating Rules Every Woman Should Know

Written By:

Written By:

Women Who Do These Things Dont Get Played By Men 1

Modern dating can be complicated. So how to not get played by a guy? Well, women Who do these 9 things don’t get their heartbroken!

The only way to find love is to date with an open heart. But I know what you’ve been through.

You’re tired of investing time and energy in the wrong men, only to end up frustrated, hurt, and empty-handed again and again. You’ve worked hard to finally find peace and a sense of happiness in your life. And there’s no way you’re going to let someone come into your life and mess it all up.

And yet … you don’t want to give up on LOVE.

You want to meet the RIGHT man — someone who makes you feel challenged, inspired, and adored. But you’re scared.

After everything you’ve been through, you’re not sure how to date without getting played or wasting valuable time.

How do you put yourself “out there” and open up to love, but also protect your heart and the peace you’ve worked so hard to cultivate in your life?

The answer? Openness coupled with boundaries. Yes, it’s possible!

How To Not Get Played By A Guy? 9 Dating Commandments for Women

1. Avoid guys with obviously low self-esteem.

If he doesn’t love and value himself, he probably can’t love and value you in a healthy way. Guys with low self-esteem are not safe to date.

Find someone with high self-esteem. This is so important.

How To Not Get Played? 9 Best Dating Rules For Women

Related: 8 Signs He Has Low Self-Esteem, And Why You Need To Move On

2. Make sure his values regarding family and relationships match yours.

Take a close look at the life he has created. Does he have healthy long-lasting relationships with friends and family? Does he have his finances and responsibilities in order?

Does he have a good relationship with the ex and kids? If not, then he’s not safe to date. Make sure his life is running smoothly before you invite him into yours.

3. Don’t accept his bad behavior.

Think about the behaviors that hurt you in past relationships, and write them down. Was your ex passive-aggressive, negative, critical, non-communicative, or cold?

If your current beau is repeating some of the same behaviors, ask him to stop. If he can’t (or won’t), move on. You deserve to be treated beautifully.

how to not get played

4. Pay attention to what he DOES (not what he SAYS).

His actions show that he cares about you, more so than his words.

Does he make time for you and stay connected when he’s not with you? Does he make promises and then follow through?

A boyfriend who’s thoughtful, caring, generous, consistent, and kind will someday be a husband who’s thoughtful, caring, generous, consistent, and kind.

5. Make sure he includes you in all aspects of his life.

Over time, he should start to include you in every aspect of his life, without exception. He welcomes you in his home and office. He invites you to spend time with his friends and family. And he’s proud to show you off! 

If he’s excited to have you in his life and wants to include you in every aspect of it, he’s a keeper and safe to date.

6. Be very sure he’s INTO you.

If a man’s into you, he’ll make you a priority. He’ll ask to spend time with you consistently, and he’ll tell you what he likes about you. It means he is safe to date.

You won’t have to wonder how he feels or wait anxiously for his call.

Bottom line — if he’s into you, you’ll know it. And if he’s not, go find someone who is.

Related: 8 Stupid Ways A Guy Acts When He Likes You And What It Might Mean For You

7. Advocate for yourself.

If something is bothering you, tell him. If he dismisses your feelings or gets defensive, that’s a red flag.

Only date someone who’s able to assess his own behavior and make changes when necessary. Date a man who owns up to his mistakes and who values your feelings (and do the same for him).

8. Wait to have sex (the right one will wait!).

Sex is awesome, and I’m all for it. But when you’re serious about finding “the one”, it’s a good idea to wait. Waiting until you’re in a relationship gives the two of you time to create emotional intimacy first, which is a smart strategy.

how to not get played

If the man you’re dating is genuinely interested in you, he’ll wait until you’re ready. If he’s more concerned about sex and not you, then he doesn’t respect that boundary.

Related: 11 Ways To Spot A Keeper From Player In One Date: Tips From An Expert Celebrity Profiler

9. Make sure you feel relaxed and happy when you’re with him.

If you feel stressed, anxious or have to walk on eggshells when you’re dating, something’s wrong and is not safe to date. Trust your gut and keep track of how you feel. If there are more bad days than good ones, it might be time to move on.

When you’re in the RIGHT relationship, you’ll feel happy, relaxed and comfortable. I hear this from happy couples all the time!

With strong boundaries and high expectations, you’ll know when it’s safe to open your heart. And when you’re all in — when you’re authentic, generous, warm and loving — that’s when LOVE will show up. That’s when the magic will happen.

Michelle Jacoby is an award-winning matchmaker and dating coach. To discover the mistakes that will kill your chances of finding love, download Michelle’s FREE ebook “The 12 Mistakes That Will Kill Your Chances Of Finding Mr. Right”.


Originally appeared on Your tango
Reprinted with permission from the author
safe to date
Ways Make Sure Safe To Date Without Getting Played Pin
How To Not Get Played pinex
How To Not Get Played pin
how to not get played

— Share —

Published On:

Last updated on:

,

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

Are You Loud Looking For Love? Ditch The Games, Try This New Dating Trend

5 Benefits Of Loud Looking Dating Strategy

Ghosting, breadcrumbing, and all those exhausting dating games, who has the time anymore? If you’re over the confusion and just want something real, it’s time to embrace loud looking dating strategy!

What Is Loud Looking Dating Strategy?

As per Tinder’s Year in Swipe 2024, loud looking is all about putting your intentions out there, no filters, no second-guessing. Whether you’re searching for casual fun or your future

Up Next

How To Date Yourself And Fall In Love With Your Own Company

Why You Should Date Yourself (And 7 Ways To Do It)

Feeling tired of endless swipes and disappointing dates? Maybe it’s time to try something new—date yourself. Yep, you read that right. Before finding the right person, why not focus on becoming the happiest, most fulfilled version of yourself? Dating yourself means investing time and love into your own life. It means finding who you are, what you enjoy, and building a life that feels full even when you’re solo. After all, the best relationship you’ll ever have is the one you have with yourself.

In the rush to find “The One,” it’s easy to lose sight of what makes you happy. When was the last time you treated yourself to something special or tried a new hobby just for fun? We get so caught up in the search for a partner that we forget to nurture our own joy. But the truth is when you prioritize yourself, you become clearer about what you want and deserve in a relationship. Plus, who says you need

Up Next

Dating a Reserved Person: 9 Simple Ways to Make Them Feel Loved

Dating a Reserved Person: 9 Tips for a Happy Relationship

Dating a reserved person is like opening a book with a locked cover and several layers – it takes time, finesse and patience to understand them. Don’t expect them to open up in the very first date itself, nor will they shout their love from the rooftops.

But once you understand how to handle their quiet charm and silent nature, you will discover that reserved individuals love very deeply, think profoundly and make some of the most loyal partners out there.

So, if you are dating a reserved man or woman, this article is going to help navigate dating them without making things awkward.

Related:

Up Next

Freak Matching: Why You Need A Partner Who Matches Your Weirdness!

Reasons To Embrace The Freak Matching Dating Trend

The dating world is ever-evolving, one day we’re hunting for red flags and the next day we want to find out if someone is benching us. But here’s an exciting term: freak matching. It’s a fun way of finding someone who matches your quirks and eccentricities, or general ‘weirdness’.

If you’re looking for someone to match your freak, or in search for a partner (or even a friend) who truly gets you, let’s learn more about what is freak matching all about.

freak matching meaning

Up Next

10 Reasons to Ghost Them Immediately After the First Date

Ghosting After the First Date? These Signs Say You Should!

Ghosting after the first date might be harsh, but allow me to change your mind.

The date wasn’t terrible—but it wasn’t great either. At first, things seemed okay. They were polite, asked a few questions, and even made you laugh once or twice. But as the night went on, little things started to bug you. Maybe they talked about their ex a bit too much, or their “jokes” didn’t sit right. Or maybe you just felt that weird, unshakable feeling that something was off. In that case, ghosting after the first date isn’t wrong.

Sometimes, it’s better to cut your losses and ghost. And if you’re still on the fence, here are 10 reasons to trust your gut and vanish.

Read More:

Up Next

Dating Advice From ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ That Still Hits Hard In 2025!

Dating Advice from 'He’s Just Not That Into You' That Still Hits Hard in

If you’ve ever spent hours analyzing a dry, one-word text like “lol,” I hate to break it to you, but… he’s just not that into you. It sounds harsh, I know, but wouldn’t you rather face the truth than waste your time? But don’t take my word for it, there is actually a whole movie on this—He’s Just Not That Into You (which, by the way, is a must-watch).

The film dives into every dating disaster you can imagine. There’s the woman holding out hope that a married man will leave his wife. The girl waiting by her phone for a guy who clearly couldn’t care less. And the girlfriend who dreams of a ring while her boyfriend treats commitment like a trap. Through all these messy situations, one thing stands out: when someone wants to be with you, they make it obvious. No mixed signals. No decoding required.

Up Next

Everything You NEED To Know About Dating In 2025

Dating in The Wild New Trends You NEED to Know About

It feels like with very breath, a new dating trend pops up! If you’ve been deep in the dating scene this year, you’ve probably already come across a few of these fresh trends wiggling their way into your lexicon. In fact, don’t be shocked if “eyecontactship” starts trending in the next few days. But in all seriousness, with so many dating terms floating around online, we’ve compiled a list to help you stay in the know about dating in 2025.

Intentional Dating

Intentional dating is just a fancy way of saying you’ve always known what you want and aren’t wasting time with an