It’s never completely obvious whether or not a girl considers you to be just a friend. Being in the friend zone really isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it is something you should be aware of and prepared for. If you’re able to quickly recognize when you’re put in the friend zone, it will be much easier for you to gracefully handle rejection and move on without too much hurt or humiliation. Here are a few ways to tell if you’re in the friend zone.

She Tells You About Other Guys She’s Interested In
The first way to tell if you’re in the friend zone is if she talks to you about other guys she’s romantically interested in. If this ever happens to you, then it would be pretty safe to bet that you’re in the friend zone. This shouldn’t be confused with when a girl says something like: “oh that movie star is so hot, I’d marry him in a heart beat”. If a girl tells you something like that, she’s just making a simple statement and nothing more. If however, a girl tells you: “there’s this cute guy I’ve been talking to, but I don’t know if he’s actually interested in me or not”, then she’s probably not romantically interested in you.

She Has A Tendency To Lead Guys On
Does she have a tendency to lead guys on? If so, you might be just another one of her many guy friends who hope and pray that some day they’ll be more than a friend. Girls like this are usually very physically attractive and charismatic. If you find yourself being led on by a girl who has no interest in you whatsoever, it’s important to recognize this fact and move on. With most girls, being in the friend zone truthfully isn’t so bad, but if a girl leads you on just to boost her ego and have fun, then it’s just not worth trying to salvage any type of friendship with her.

She Gives You Hugs Not Kisses
Many people consider the touch barrier as being the main difference between friends and lovers. While this is mostly true, there are still certain kinds of touch that indicate friendship and nothing else. A hug is a good example of this. If a girl hugs you and never makes any attempt to kiss you, there’s a good chance you’re in the friend zone. If a girl hugs you and there’s obvious sexual tension, then you may want to reconsider. Like everything else on this list, it’s important to use your own judgment when assessing a situation. If you feel like she wants more when she hugs you, then there still might be a chance. But if she quickly shrugs away after hugging you, then you’re probably just a friend to her.

You’re Naturally A Nice Guy
If you don’t have very much experience with women and treat them all like princesses, then you’re in for some bad news. You’re probably too much of a nice guy and are easily passed up by women. This doesn’t mean you should be a jerk, but if you treat a girl like she’s the greatest thing in the world, she’ll eventually get sick of it and find a man that challenges and excites her. The good news is that being a nice guy doesn’t mean you’ll always end up in the friend zone. This is because many nice guys can still be strong, confident, and flirty and still get plenty of girls. Make sure you pay attention to the other things mentioned on this list before automatically assuming you’re in the friend zone.

There Is Only One Way Sexual Tension
It’s always good to create sexual tension with a girl you are interested in. This can help push her buttons and make her want to throw you over her shoulder and take you to the bedroom. Pay close attention to her body language when you two are alone in private. If she seems nervous and anxious to leave, she’s probably not interested in you physically and considers you as a friend. If she seems all hot and bothered when you two are alone in private, there’s a good chance she wants you to be more than just a friend.

You’re Afraid Of Rejection
If you’re too afraid of rejection to ever make a move with a girl you’re interested in, you better act fast or you might find yourself stuck in the friend zone. Girls want to be pursued and typically expect guys to make the first move. This doesn’t always happen, but as a guy, you should be more proactive about getting to know girls that you’re interested in and making a move when the time is right. If you’re too afraid of rejection and end up doing nothing, you’ll find yourself in the friend zone more often than you may like.