8 Perks of Having a Friend With Benefits

Let's face it — we're sexual beings, and most of us not in relationships are going to find a way to have sex. When you're hooking up with a friend, you don't have anxiety about something dangerous potentially happening when you go home with them because they're a stranger you just met. You know them, trust them, and feel safe with them, which is always important. It's also safer to have one consistent partner instead of multiple when thinking about STIs and sexual health.

A FWB allows you the freedom to still date around and explore what's out there while also having a back-pocket booty call. It's like having your cake and eating it too (and who doesn't want cake?!). My current FWB explains that he prefers this arrangement because he's not ready for a full relationship, and "the freedom of being casual and not limiting myself is pretty ideal." And me? Same!

Multiple studies have shown that having sex is good for our health and well-being. It's a stress reliever, a good workout, it boosts your mood, and is a confidence builder. A FWB gives you that healthy sex glow without the angst or emotional baggage of a relationship.

Friends normally have something in common. Whether it's music, weird interests, humour, or a TV show – there is typically some kind of chemistry there. While there isn't supposed to be much happening outside the bedroom in a FWB situation, this light-hearted attraction translates into pleasurable sex. It's more fun to have sex with someone you vibe with than trying to force chemistry with a random person.

A FWB gives you the opportunity to explore yourself freely in a relaxed environment. When hooking up with someone new, it's possible to experience sexual performance anxiety. This not only takes away from the practice, but it also limits your exploration, risk and, pleasure. With a consistent FWB, you're able to learn about your body and desires. You can tell a friend exactly what you're into and what you're not into. You can try new things without feeling embarrassed. Having more, consistent sex can lead to better sex.

Dating fatigue is real and the thought of going through small talk and intro questions (Where are you from? How many siblings do you have? What do you do for a living?) is nauseating to me at this point. It's like a broken record that feels like forced conversation we can have in our sleep. It feels better to hang out with a friend that you already know, without having to hold back and fit a mold of the perfect date. There are no games and no waiting for them to text you back – you're friends who have sex and nothing more.

I know what you're thinking — this perk is contradicting everything previously discussed. But when you're intimate with a friend but also dating other people outside of them, you may realise that the other fish in the sea actually aren't for you, and no one can quite measure up to your trusty old FWB.

Overall, FWB can be a great form of temporary pleasure for those living busy, independent, free-spirited lives. Just know that if emotional and romantic feelings do creep in, you must communicate them and be prepared to walk away if the other person doesn't feel the same. But if they do, the reward can be so worth the risk.