The modern dating scene is home to a lot of ambiguity and confusion. As gender roles become increasingly blurred, women become increasingly unsure how to handle certain situations.

These days, anyone is free to ask anyone out. Suddenly, we’re stressing over things like who should be picking up the tab or whether you must wait a certain number of hours before sending a follow-up text. You don’t want to seem too eager, do you? Yadda, yadda, yadda.

If you’re sick of getting disappointed by your dating life, forget about traditional dating rules. Even some so-called “modern” dating practices are not to be followed, either. Instead, consider the following real-life dating tips. These little nuggets of romantic wisdom might just be what you need to find true love.

Commitment: To be or not to be 

So, let’s say that you have a lot in common with this new love interest, but one or both of you isn’t looking for anything serious at the moment. If you know your heart can’t take the bacchanal of the situation and it’s likely flare-ups, be honest with both yourself and others from the jump. Being clear of your expectations or lack thereof is not only healthy when it comes to developing and maintaining relationships, but it can also be useful in filtering who is for you and who is not. 

“Nice guys” should sometimes finish last 

We’ve all heard the tales of how nice guys always tend to finish last, but have we ever asked the question as to whether that isn’t entirely fair and justified? The thing about dating self-proclaimed “nice guys” is often that they are not that nice. They can usually come up with really regressive ideas about women while seething with resentment. Often enough, they cling to that nice label because they don’t have anything else to offer. Not to mention that they can be incredibly boring. If you’re dating a nice guy, don’t date him because he is nice or treats you well. That is the way you deserve to be treated. Instead, you should focus on whether you even like this person or whether you don’t think you can find more?