Putting a label on things can be difficult, especially when you’re both reluctant to bring up the topic of exclusivity. While it may be an awkward conversation to have, it won’t get any better if you let things hang in limbo. If you want to make sure your guy is only dating you, here’s how to ask him to cut other women out and dedicate himself to his budding relationship with you.
- Ask him to delete his dating apps. If you two have been going out for a while but you know he still has apps like Tinder or Bumble downloaded on his phone, then simply ask him if he’s willing to delete them. If he says no, then it’s a clear answer that he’s not ready to be exclusive.
- Tell him you’re not seeing anyone else. Asking him if he’s got anyone else on the side can be intimidating, but if you let him know he’s the only guy on your radar, he’ll be inclined to reveal if it’s the same for him. This will clearly let him know that you’re taking this relationship seriously and are ready to be exclusive. Hopefully, he’ll respond by letting you know the same.
- Tell him at a surprise dinner date. Sometimes it’s better to go big or go home. If you want to show him just how much he means to you, throw him a special date. Choose an activity you know he’d really love, whether that’s a fancy dinner date or a trip to the amusement park. During your time together, tell him that you’d like to be exclusive. He’ll likely be flattered with the lengths you went to in order to make it a special moment, and hopefully, he’ll reciprocate the same feelings.
- Invite him to meet your family. Meeting your significant other’s family is a big deal, so if you don’t want to outright tell him that you want to be exclusive, this is a good way to drop a hint without having to say it. Simply extending an invitation to him may be enough to let him know you want to take things to the next level. If he accepts, then chances are he feels the same way.
- Introduce him as your boyfriend. To be fair, this is a pretty bold move. Introducing someone as your girlfriend or boyfriend before you’ve had “The Talk” can catch them off guard. On the flip side, it will open up the opportunity to discuss your exclusivity. Just be prepared for the possibility that your love interest won’t appreciate being called your significant other without a heads up. Proceed with caution.
- Change your relationship status online. Another bold move, similar to the one above, is to announce to your online followers that you’re in a relationship. It can be as simple as changing your relationship status on Facebook or making a post alluding to a new guy. Your romantic interest will likely see it, and though they may be surprised they weren’t given a heads up before you took the label public, it will at least push the two of you two discuss your exclusivity.
- Send it through a message. While having a face-to-face conversation is usually recommended, it can be nerve-wracking bringing up relationship labels to your love interest. If you’re too scared to do it in person, consider sending them a message. It’s a good way to break the ice. It gives you a chance to get everything you want to say out. You can even ask friends for advice before sending the message. Offer to discuss the topic in person once your man has had a chance to process.
- Get a friend to drop a hint. If you’re really struggling to let him know that you want to be exclusive, have a trusted friend give you a hand. They can mention during a one-on-one conversation with your guy that you feel things have been going well. Even more direct, they can add that you haven’t been seeing anyone else. This will give your guy the hint that you’re taking things seriously, and even more, it will hopefully encourage him to initiate “The Talk” without you needing to bring it up first.
- Ask where he sees things going. You don’t need to directly ask him where the two of you stand or whether he’s been seeing other people. A more casual way to approach the topic is to ask where he sees things going between the two of you. He may not have a specific answer; be prepared for him to say something simple like “It’s going well.” But at least this will let him know that the future of your relationship is on your mind and will hopefully open the door for a more direct conversation about exclusivity.
- Tell it straight to his face. Of course, the best way to ask a guy to only date you is to directly tell him that’s what you want. There’s no doubt that this can be intimidating. But if this has been weighing on your mind, and you no longer want to continue living in limbo, this is the quickest way to get an answer. Just make sure you’re emotionally prepared for the conversation to not go the way you want.
