According to romantic comedies, such as Friends with Benefits starring Mila and JT, you’re in for a rocky road.

It’s all good, then someone gets the feels, and then there’s a falling out. Shock twist – wait for it – eventually you realise you’re madly in love and, via a flashmob and a passionate kiss, love wins.

Cool, but what about if you’re just trying to remain friends who can rely on a booty call to scratch that itch?

There’s a new study coming out of the University of Denver (smoke more weed, guys) about how to keep the dream alive. Huff Post SA to dish the dirt:

The real key to maintaining a good friends-with-benefits-relationship is to set boundaries, communicate your expectations and acknowledge that you’re probably more invested in the casual relationship than you set out to be.

Sounds easy(ish).

The study surveyed 171 university students who had slept with a friend in the past year (surely not hard), and analysed a number of factors that go into keeping the dream alive:

The researchers found that sexual satisfaction was important, but it wasn’t the only thing that mattered to those surveyed. Beyond the sex, people who acted more like a couple, sacrificed a little for the benefit of their relationship and spent less time scouting for the next best thing were happiest in their FWB relationships.

Um, that’s starting to sound like a relationship to me.

Anyway, back to the study’s main take on how to maintain a successful FWB vibe:

The big takeaway of the study for sex buddies, according to [Jesse Owen, lead author on the study]? Be clear with your boundaries and expectations.

“Potential conflict can arise for young adults who believe that they are a ‘we’ with their FWB partner, [when their partner doesn’t share that view]” he said.

In other words, good communication is the cornerstone of all relationships, even those between hookup buddies.

Hey, you just do you.

Best of luck maintaining your FWB as winter draws to a close, because that’s often when these things unravel

[source:huffpostsa]