This is how you flirt when you are in a relationship

Flirting is basically quite innocent: you inevitably encounter other men in life besides your own. So it's okay to sneak a look, have a chat, or give a wink.

Right?

Where exactly is that line when it comes to flirting while you're in a relationship? Some people do it more naturally than others, and some find it harder to stop once they are in a relationship. In any case, according to psychologists, it all depends on the context, whether it's acceptable or not. If you're just flirting for fun, then it doesn't do much harm. In the Van Dale dictionary, flirting is described as ‘a not seriously intended attempt to attract someone’. If you flirt with a colleague or someone in the bar to make your partner jealous or because you're no longer happy in your relationship and are proud of the person you're with, then you need to be careful. It also helps a lot if your partner is aware of it: if you're honest that you sometimes flirt with a man but that it means nothing, then it's still acceptable.

We are certainly not innocent. In 90 percent of cases between men and women, the woman initiates flirting. What do women mainly do to stand out and give a subtle hint of interest? Playing with their hair is number one. A woman gets the most attention when she gives an average of 35 signals per hour: sweet smiles, touching arms, looking at him just a bit too long, tossing her hair, pushing her breasts forward, pouting her lips, offering him a drink: you name it. Men also look longer at red lips than at lips without color: 7.3 seconds for a red mouth, while pink lips are only good for 6.7 seconds. Now you know that too, in case you have wild plans tonight.

When does flirting become cheating? Hard to say. Some couples allow each other a bit more freedom. The question is what is worse: drunkenly kissing a stranger whose name you don't even know or laughing and looking and winking at a nice guy at work with whom you have a clear connection every day. And how often do we flirt while knowing that we actually shouldn't? Especially the office seems to be a danger zone. At least 20 percent of people have flirted at work, and another 47 percent of people in a relationship think that flirting at work ‘is just fine’.

So if your man leaves for the office early again and comes home late ’after that one drink’... Make sure to do your best in the bedroom. He won't need that messing around at his desk with that girl from HR anymore.