How to Be Friends With a Guy: 16 Friendly Ways To Just Stay Platonic

Contrary to popular belief, a guy and girl can be just friends and nothing more. Are you in doubt? Here’s how to be friends with a guy and nothing more.

There are way too many people out there who say men and women can’t be just friends. While the basis for their argument is a sound one, it’s just not at all true. So long as you both have a platonic understanding of one another, you can learn how to be friends with a guy.

Admittedly, it’s easy to cross the lines between friendship and something more. Especially as you grow comfortable with one another and you realize they know you better than anyone else, it’s easy to fall into the trap of being more than friends.

It’s why some girls find it so easy to fall for their guy best friend!

However, if you really want to know how to be just friends with a guy, you may need to remember a few rules to make sure you don’t cross that platonic line.

[Read: How to have a perfectly platonic relationship without complicating things]

Some people can be attracted to one another but completely wrong for each other

This is another reason you might want to know how to be friends with a guy without getting too intimate. Even though you can be attracted to him and he might feel the same, there may be a very big reason it would never work out. Perhaps you both have different beliefs or want different things in life.

Sure, there’s evident chemistry, but are you really compatible with one another? As friends, you most likely know one another’s little quirks and even flaws. So while there is evident attraction, they could be the wrong person for you.

It’s best to stay in the friendship lane before you end up ruining your friendship for the potential of a relationship that won’t work.

The point is, you still want them in your life, but you know you could never be with them romantically. However, it’s not always easy to stop yourself. Knowing what to do to remain platonic can help.

[Read: How to be just friends with a guy when he wants more]

Why should you learn how to be friends with a guy?

If you value your friendship with this guy, it’s crucial you learn how to be just friends with a guy. Even if there’s this thought in your head that makes you wonder what if you’re good together, don’t give in to that thought. For all you know, you could be wrong for one another.

Also, you can always find another guy to date, but guy friends are keepers. You wouldn’t want to ruin what you have just to see if things would work, right?

By knowing how to stay platonic with them, you can stop overthinking if the lines would cross beyond friendship. It can be hard *especially if you’re attracted to him*, but it’ll be worth it in the end.

[Read: How to stay just friends after having sex with a guy friend]

How to be friends with a guy and never cross that platonic line

If you have a guy you want to stay friends with but aren’t sure how you can stop yourself or him from crossing the line, we can help. Here are all the ways you can avoid going overboard that will also help keep him in line, too.

1. Let him know how you feel ASAP

This means you just need to tell him right away that friendship is all he’ll get from you. Sure, your feelings might grow down the line and his could, too, but this way, you’re telling him right away that it will never happen.

What better way to insist on friendship than by telling him right from the start?

Also, it avoids any confusion if ever your actions say otherwise. He’ll just remember the day you told him that friendship is the only thing you can give him. This will deter him from making moves in the future, and it’ll help you stick to your original words. [Read: How to express your opinion without overstepping]

2. Create at least a little distance

Don’t be talking to him and trying to be around him all the time. The more you distance yourself from him, the easier it’ll be to remain platonic friends. Let some texts go unanswered, but obviously not all of them.

Don’t let him get used to the fact that you’re constantly texting and calling him 24/7. Boundaries are essential if you want to know how to be friends with a guy without crossing any lines. [Read: Need space in your relationship?]

3. Ask your friends for help sometimes

Your friends can create a really nice barrier between you and him. If you’re feeling particularly affectionate toward him, ask your friends to step in. Let your friends keep you accountable in not letting you cross any boundaries.

If you have the urge to hold him or be affectionate, well, that’s what your friends are there for! They’ll remind you precisely why you cannot be more than friends.

4. Get away from him if things are getting a little heated

Space and distance can do wonders for learning how to be just friends with a guy. If you start to have feelings for him or are flirting quite a bit, create some distance.

Get away from him and remove yourself from that situation. Distract yourself so you don’t end up doing things you might regret.

The closer you are to him, the more likely your feelings will intensify, so it’s essential you create space, just to clear your head *and heart* for a bit. Don’t let yourself carry on to a point you can’t come back from. Stop the flirting on your end right away and ignore any flirting that comes from him. [Read: 23 unspoken signs of mutual sexual attraction between two people]

5. Pursue other people

Find someone else to keep you occupied! If your attention and time are spent on someone else, it’ll prevent anything from blossoming between you and your friends. Plus, you’ll still be able to remain friends even if you’re dating someone else.

You know what they say, the best way to know how to be friends with a guy is to focus on another guy. So get dating and flirt with the next cute guy you spot!

It’ll keep your focus off your guy friend, at least for a bit. You never know; you might even have feelings for this new guy. [Read: When you miss him – 23 mild tricks to stop missing the wrong guy]

6. Don’t get drunk with him alone

This is probably the worst idea anyone could have, ever. Never get drunk with your guy friend if you want to remain just friends. Sometimes it’s fine to have a drink in each other’s company, but all your feelings are heightened when you get drunk.

There’s a huge risk you’ll end up giving in when he flirts with you or worse, you might kiss him when you get too drunk!

That means if you have even the slightest bit of affection for him, it’ll come out a lot more when you’re drunk with him. So this is a mustn’t do if you want to know how to be just friends with a guy. If you do drink together, at least have a friend come with you. [Read: Drunk kiss dilemma – So you kissed your guy friend when drunk… now what?!]

7. Don’t go home together!

Even if you’re not drinking, spending alone time together in his place or yours isn’t a good idea. It’ll feel very date-like even if you two are just friends. Remember that you’re trying to be friends and not end up dating this person!

Spending time with just the two of you leaves a lot of room for error *and flirting* so refrain from doing this! Every time he asks you to a movie or to grab a coffee, bring a friend with you to keep yourself accountable. [Read: How to stop a guy from flirting or hitting on you]

8. Try not to skirt around the issue

Meaning, don’t ignore your feelings or the sexual tension, if you feel any. Admit to yourself that you do feel something for him. Ignoring them will only make you grow closer to him, and it’ll ruin the friendship altogether.

The more you deny any lingering feelings you have for him, the stronger they’ll get to the point that you can no longer hide them. So admit that you feel something for him and take it from there. [Read: The signs she’s hiding her feelings for you though she likes you]

9. Don’t get physical in any way

No cuddles or flirty touches. It’s not really appropriate if you’re trying to avoid falling for that person. If you don’t have any feelings for him at all, sure a hug here and there is fine. The minute you get cozy or snuggle up with him, it’s game over for your friendship.

Even if you want to give him a harmless hug, trust us, there’s no such thing as harmless if you already have feelings for your guy friend! If you want to know how to be just friends with a guy, don’t let any physical touches linger. [Read: Romantic hug vs friendly hug and how to feel the difference instantly]

10. Don’t let people assume stuff

If others are calling you both boyfriend and girlfriend, put an end to it. Neither of you needs to start thinking of the other in this way, and stopping it will help avoid you two slipping into those respective roles.

This teasing might seem harmless, but it might trigger feelings for either of you that you wouldn’t have if there wasn’t any teasing. You can’t always control the teasing, but if your mutual friends are doing the teasing, tell them to kindly stop. [Read: 17 signs he likes you way more than just a friend]

11. Shut down his advances if they make any

If he starts making moves and stuff toward you, shut him down. Don’t just ignore them because that won’t make them go away at all. You need to actually shut them down and communicate that you’re not interested. Don’t give in if he ever makes any advances towards you.

The minute you do that, you might as well date him already! Be firm about it and tell him that you’re not messing around in not wanting any actions that lead to more than friendship.

12. Keep him in the loop on your dating life

If he knows you’re dating someone, then it’s unlikely he’ll break the boundaries of your friendship into something more. So if you want to know how to be just friends with a guy, tell him about the guy you’re dating.

Don’t hesitate to let him know you’re dating someone and you really like this guy. If anything, he’ll take it as a sign to keep your friendship strictly platonic as long as some other guy is in your life. [Read: 14 platonic friendship rules to be just friends without the drama]

The fact you’re just friends means you don’t have to put your best foot forward when you’re with him. Don’t go all-out with your physical appearance if you want to be just friends with a guy.

You can’t keep dressing in your best clothes and makeup and expect him not to flirt with you or cross boundaries. Guys are visual individuals so if you look your prettiest, guess what? He’ll likely make a move, or worse, he may even assume you’re trying to impress him and expect him to make a move!

14. Avoid late-night texts

You’re literally setting yourself up for failure if you keep texting him late at night. So if you want things to stay strictly platonic with your guy friend, stop texting him late at night.

You’re not a booty call, and you especially don’t want him getting naughty to you. It’s easy to become intimate with someone when texting late at night, so be wary of this. [Read: Booty call or flirty hello? How to respond to late-night texts]

15. Don’t get touchy-feely

If you want to know how to be just friends with a guy, avoid getting all touchy-feely with him. Even if the guy you’re dating ditched you, it’s not an excuse to come crying on his shoulder when he comforts you, and share feelings together.

Vulnerability is a scary road to enter when you want to stay platonic. The minute you let your guard down, it’s easy to cross the lines of friendship and into something more.

16. Remember why you want to remain platonic

This will help you the most. You need to keep reminding yourself why you only want to be friends and why a relationship would never work. If you keep thinking of those reasons whenever you have the urge to be something more, it’ll help keep you sane.

So if you’re serious about wanting to know how to be friends with a guy, remind yourself precisely why you’re doing this and take it from there.

[Read: How to be friends with someone you like without losing your mind]

So, how to be just friends with a guy?

Staying just friends with a guy has its challenges, especially when it’s easy to give in to flirting and all the affection. Especially when you’re already attracted to him, you’re already at risk of turning the friendship into something more. It’s best to remind yourself of all the reasons why you want to stay strictly friends and nothing more.

[Read: 20 signs he just wants to be friends even if you’re hoping for something more]

Knowing how to be friends with a guy means having the discipline and self-control to do this. Even if he flirts with you, don’t ever give in to it. Otherwise, it’s game over for your friendship.