Managing Summer Situationships
Are you sunkissed or sunburnt by your summer fling?
BY Anna Altman ★ june 29th, 2025
Photo Credits: Kacie Moschella
Whether it be a brand new summer fling or a return home to a once-beloved ex, this season holds potential for some sticky situations – and situationships. Staying away from a problematic ex is never as easy as some people make it out to be, and we often find comfort in falling back on someone familiar, or in getting sweet revenge by pairing up with someone new. A brief summer romance can be exhilarating, but certainly exhausting, as well. It’s crucial to check in with yourself and determine if your summer relationship is truly beneficial, or simply holding you back from experiencing the freedom you deserve.
Focus on Fun
One of the most significant components to prioritize in a summer relationship is fun. While it’s important to connect with someone you feel a real spark with, summer is undoubtedly the time to take a break from draining schoolwork and spend time with those who help you truly relax. If your location is being stalked every five minutes, or you’re double-checking a Snap score, the summer fling may be a little too consuming for this time of year. You can certainly fit a fling into your summer schedule, but just remember to leave enough time for you.
ReturnING to the EX?
If you’re arriving back home to an ex who fills your heart with memories, a comforting (but sometimes problematic) coping mechanism is allowing that person back into your life for the summertime. There are surely cases where distance makes the heart grow fonder, but distance also makes us forget why we left a relationship in the first place. If this person has ever shown you disrespect, missing them is not a reason to give them the time of day again, even over a sleepy summer break. Instead of returning to an ex who hurt you, call up a friend and tell them why you want to reach back out. Your friend will likely convince you to reconsider your choice. There’s no shame in falling back on familiar people though, especially when the break has only strengthened your bond and connection.
BE AWARE OF RED FLAGS
We often talk about how to manage rocky relationships at school, but we also need to consider how to take note of red flags over the summer, and take action to benefit ourselves. While situations are often fun, they can also be heartbreaking. If a fling is harming your self-esteem, it seriously isn’t worth the few months of thrill. Be just as picky with your partners over the summer, and stay in touch with yourself and your goals while doing so.
Don’t feel pressure to either engage in a summer fling or ignore one altogether; trusting your gut and being alert for red flags will ensure your emotional well-being remains intact throughout the season. Remember: you deserve the world, and no relationship, whether it be two weeks or five years, should ever make you feel otherwise. If you end up in a sticky situationship this summer, throw on some lighthearted country music, go for a drive with the windows down and remind yourself there is more to life than romance — and more to summer than relationships.