How to Act When You're Around the Guy You Like

You might find it hard to relax and be yourself when you're near the guy you like. The moment you see him, you could start sweating, your knees might feel like they’re stuck together in a silly way, and you might even start rambling like a little kid — or worse, talking about your favorite stuffed bear because you can’t stand the awkward silence. Don’t worry — feeling uneasy around someone you like is totally normal. Once you calm down, regain your composure, and remind yourself that he's probably just as nervous as you are, you'll be able to act naturally and impress him every time.

Make Eye Contact. Keep your glances casual so he doesn't feel overwhelmed. When he catches your eye, give him a sweet smile and then go back to whatever you were doing. If you sit there staring at him all day, he might think you're a little obsessed. However, when you're talking to him, try to confidently maintain eye contact instead of looking down at the ground, and he’ll be impressed by how composed you seem.

Ask him something. You could ask him to exchange some money or inquire about the time, like whether you’re running late for class. You could also ask if he knows anyone running for the student council. Keep your questions simple and casual.

Get his friends' attention. This does not mean you should prank his friends until they can’t help but notice you. Instead, be polite and friendly around his friends and try to get to know them a little. Playfully interacting with his friends is okay and will catch his attention, but if you overdo it, they might get the wrong impression of you. You should act courteously and show interest by asking about their favorite sports or weekend plans, while trying to stay casual, not revealing that you're actually interested in him.

• If his friends notice and like you, they might talk about you to him, making him pay more attention to you.
• If you become friends with his friends, they might even invite you to parties, giving you more opportunities to meet him.
• Don’t have his friends ask him if he likes you. He'll think you’re trying to force a relationship. This will likely get back to him, and he’ll think it's unattractive. Even asking his friends what he’s doing or what he likes could give away that you have feelings for him.

Let him see you having a great time. If he’s already in your orbit but isn’t talking to you, don’t waste time feeling down or waiting for him to come to you. Instead, enjoy your time with your friends, laugh, tell funny stories, and immerse yourself in the moment instead of lingering by yourself. Become the girl everyone wants to hang out with. Make him come to you and start talking because others are drawn to your presence.

• If he sees you surrounded by people who like you, he won’t be intimidated; instead, he’ll want to learn more about you.
• Guys love girls who are happy and make them feel good when they’re around. Let him see you enjoying yourself, rather than sulking and searching for something amusing on your phone.

Don’t act like someone you’re not. If you’re talking to him and you come off as boring, the best thing you can do is just be yourself. Ultimately, you want him to like you, not some idealized version of you, right? You don’t need to reveal everything about yourself right away, but you should start acting like you would around your friends, just a little less casual. At first, you might feel shy, but the more you talk to him, the more confident you’ll become in being yourself.

• You might think that guys like girls who giggle and twirl their hair or girls who flatter them, but that’s not true. Guys are usually attracted to girls who are independent, comfortable in their own skin, and don’t feel the need to pretend.

Avoid meaningless chatter. You might think gossiping or saying horrible things about people you both know will make him think you’re fun to be around, but in reality, he might temporarily enjoy whatever gossip you bring, but eventually, he’ll think you’re shallow and untrustworthy. No guy wants to be near a girl who’s always talking about trivial things because it makes her seem like the center of dramatic attention, and no guy wants to be anywhere near a soap opera, especially not with a dramatic girl.

• Keep the conversation positive. You want to make him feel good and have a pleasant experience every time you talk to him, instead of making him feel drained by negative energy.

Don’t act jealous. This is the worst behavior if you want a guy to notice you. If you see him hanging out with other girls, don’t ask if he likes them or make fun of how silly or chubby they look. This not only makes you appear insecure but also extremely jealous. If you come off as the jealous type even before dating, he’ll start imagining you as a girlfriend who is overly possessive.

• If a girl you both know is approaching, surprise him by complimenting her. He’ll see that you’re calm and self-assured, showing that you don’t need to compete with other women.

Ask him about his interests. Let’s face it: guys love talking about themselves. Who wouldn’t, right? If you want him to enjoy dating you, you need to make him feel that you’re genuinely interested in him without coming off as overly flattering or strange. Instead, ask about his favorite sports team, the sports he plays if he’s still in school, his favorite band, TV shows, or even his preferred type of Mexican food. Of course, you can share things about yourself too; just avoid making him feel like he’s being interrogated, as though you’re analyzing him.

• Some guys are a bit shy and may not enjoy talking about themselves too much. If you sense this, smoothly switch the topic to something you both can discuss, like your weekend plans.

Be kind to everyone. This is a simple but effective approach. Be kind to him and others around you. He’ll notice how pleasant you are to be around. If you’re rude and selfish with everyone else but only kind to him, that won’t get you far. Alternating between kindness and coldness/arrogance will only make you seem fake. Playing mind games will only lead to mood swings and selfish behavior.

• If he considers dating you, he’ll realize that being with you will be easy since you get along with everyone. No guy wants to date a girl known for being rude or selfish for no reason.

Charm him. For some, being charming comes naturally. If you can do it, show it. If not, just demonstrate your interest by making eye contact, smiling, and engaging in light conversation. You can angle your body toward him instead of standing too far away, sending the message that you like him. You could even lightly touch him if the conversation flows well. You can also tease him a little once you become more familiar with him and know how he’ll respond positively.

• Another way to charm him is by being a little playful. You don’t always have to be serious.

Compliment him. Smart and simple compliments are incredibly effective. If you can find something to praise about him, go for it. Choose an innocuous aspect of his appearance or qualities that truly deserve recognition. You can say things like, "I really like your new haircut" or "It’s awesome how you can play basketball so well and still keep up with schoolwork." The more personal the compliment, the better, but avoid making him uncomfortable with comments like, "You look so attractive in that shirt." Save the sweet compliments for when you’re officially dating.

• Don’t overdo the compliments during a conversation. If you praise him too much, he might feel awkward or think you’re just flattering him.

Use body language with him. If he teases you, you can lightly push him or playfully tap his knee. Just make sure he reciprocates your actions. If you’re the only one touching him, either he’s not comfortable with it, or he feels awkward about the contact. When sitting or standing next to him, try gently brushing your knee against his or lightly grazing his elbow. Pay attention to how he responds to these subtle touches—he might want more.

Say his name when talking to him. Everyone loves hearing their own name, so make sure to use it when speaking with him. You don’t need to say it constantly—once or twice during a conversation is enough to make him feel special.

Be a humorous communicator. Share funny stories from your weekend or amusing things you’ve heard in the news. Talk about your passion for dancing or playing the piano. Keep the conversation light and interactive, don’t be afraid to show your goofy side and make him laugh with your quirky tales. By just being humorous and initiating conversation, he’ll look forward to meeting you again for more chats.

• If the conversation lulls and you can’t think of anything to say, that’s okay too. Just smile and introduce a random topic. Don’t feel uncomfortable with silences; if you both feel relaxed, soon enough, you’ll find yourselves comfortably sharing those quiet moments too.

Always stay calm. Try to remain as composed as possible, even if you’re feeling nervous inside. You can be excited and joyful without being overly anxious or speaking too loudly just because he’s around. If you feel too jittery, take a deep breath and regain your composure. Avoid staring at his face if it helps. You don’t have to be completely aloof if that’s not your style, but try not to appear too eager or overexcited when you’re near him, or he might feel overwhelmed.

• There’s a difference between staying calm and acting like you don’t care. He should still be able to sense that you like him a little without thinking you’ve reserved a sacred space just for him in your room.

Make him curious. Once you've captured his attention, your next step is to draw him in closer. You want him to recognize you as a special girl he will want to know more about. You can achieve this by being a little mysterious and not revealing everything about yourself immediately; let him feel the desire to uncover more about you. When you’re talking to him, mention that you have to leave while the conversation is still going well—don’t wait until things are quiet before saying goodbye. This will make him eager to see you again, and you can continue having interesting conversations.

• If he’s curious, he will want to spend more time with you, possibly even just the two of you. Don’t appear overly excited if he asks you out, but let him know you’re happy about it.

• Clothes that make you feel comfortable! Just be yourself!
• Deodorant
• Fresh breath
• Clean nails
• Neat and tidy hair
• A friendly attitude
• Confidence