In fact, in a recent Lavalife poll, the highest percentage of those surveyed (roughly a third of both men and women) confessed to playing the field with multiple lovers but found the process complicated.
It doesn't have to be that way. Learn to juggle your paramours with honesty and grace, and maximize your pleasure without compromising anyone's feelings in the process. And lest it need to be said, this advice is intended for singles not for the partnered. 'Nuff said.
The Do List
Get Organized
It can be tough to come up with ideas for restaurants, outings and activities when you're dating one person, let alone two. But to fully enjoy your time with each person, you should strive to share different experiences in each relationship. Staying organized on your dating escapades keeps both dynamics fresh and avoids redundancy, and it will also help you to prevent any awkward slip-ups when it comes to talking about your past experiences together.
Be In Touch With Your Feelings
Feelings in relationships ebb and flow and even downright fade. Keep each fling separate in your mind, and try to avoid comparing one person to another. If you discover that your fondness for one paramour has developed into something more like love (coupled with the realization that you'd feel sick to your stomach if you knew they were sleeping with someone else), it's time to cut things off with your other flames and take the path of monogamy. Be as fair and gentle with your dumpee as you would if they'd been the only one in your life. Just because there's another person singing your praises doesn't entitle you to treat someone cruelly or even carelessly.
Be In Touch With Theirs, Also
Even if both your admirers say they are at ease with the concept of polygamous dating, there's a good chance that jealousy or frustration will make an appearance on the feeling front. Be patient and respectful of your lovers' emotions. "It can be rough dealing with all those insecurities that some women feel at not being the only one in a guy's life," says Matt P. from Toronto. "You know, they really WANT to want to be cool with it, but sometimes they just, I dunno, bubble over with the idea of you fooling around with another woman… The times that the polygamous dating thing has worked best for me is when I've been up front about what's going on but also take the time to really listen to what they're thinking when they're thinking it. It's worth it, really, for the extra action I get out of dating two of them."
Practice Safe Sex
Protecting yourself physically is just as important, if not more, as ensuring your emotional stability when dating multiple partners. Use protection every single time you get intimate.