Because of their selfish nature (and I mean that in the least offensive way possible), rebound relationships can offer many benefits. The right rebound fling can help you boost your ego, get you out of the house and back on the social scene, and even help you forget about the ex-girlfriend who made you eligible for a rebound relationship in the first place.

However, many people choose to avoid rebound relationships, and for good reason: They can be just as miserable as they are fun.

If you’ve made, or are making, and of the following five surefire mistakes to ruin a rebound fling, it’s probably time for you to get out there and maybe even avoid rebound relationships altogether.

1. Start taking it seriously

If this isn’t a no-brainer for you, you don’t need to get into a rebound relationship in the first place. Most guys who get into rebound adventures do so because they need to “fix” something their ex-girlfriends broke when they dumped them. This could mean they need an ego boost, someone they can hang out with on Friday nights, or even someone to take their mind off how upset they are feeling.

This means that rebound relationships usually take place right after, or very shortly after, a breakup.

So taking a rebound girlfriend seriously is just looking for a whirlwind of trouble. You won’t admit it, but you’re probably an emotional wreck. All that emotional turmoil can lead you to “see” or “feel” things that simply aren’t there. Also, you will most likely still have SOME feelings for your ex girlfriend, and if you are serious about your rebound girlfriend, you will most likely just transfer your feelings for your ex girlfriend to the rebound affair.

2. Starts to show jealousy

Actually, that should probably just be “Start getting jealous.” Like I said earlier, a bounce adventure is great for a few things. She can help you feel better about yourself, help you get out of the house more, and even help you see that there are other girls out there.

Good.

But the minute you start getting jealous of things your rebound fling does or says, or other people they date, the relationship isn’t a rebound anymore, it’s on its way to being serious.

3. Start letting go

Whether it’s your hair, your clothes, your body, your weight, or your – ahem – personal hygiene, if you start to get carried away, it means three things:

1. You’re getting too comfortable with your bouncing girlfriend.
2. Your bounce girlfriend will most likely kick you out.
3. You are on your way to NEVER finding someone once you are ready for another serious relationship.

Just because you now have someone paying attention to you doesn’t mean you can get lazy.

4. Start letting him act like your girlfriend

You can think of this in two different ways:

1. If you are allowing your rebound girlfriend to act like your ex girlfriend, and by that I mean do all the annoying, annoying, motherly things your ex girlfriend used to do, then you have ruined your rebound relationship.
2. If you’re allowing your rebound girlfriend to act like she’s your serious girlfriend, and by that I mean she wants you to meet her family, move in with her, and look at wedding magazines, then you’ve ruined your rebound relationship.

5. Start sticking around once the fun is gone

This is common sense, guys: A rebound relationship can provide many things, including misery, but you shouldn’t stick around if any of those things are things you DON’T WANT, including misery.

If you are more miserable with your rebound affair than you were alone, or with your ex-girlfriend, end it. Now. There is no reason to have a rebound adventure if it doesn’t benefit you in some way.