Pounding heart, sweaty fists, and butterflies are all common signs of nervousness and come out in waves when you start getting close to your crush. But there are many more indicators of interest that happen long before these symptoms. Here are a few more subtle indicators that you’re interested in someone.
1) You Can’t Stop Thinking About Them
When you like someone, they’re on your mind all the time. You find yourself thinking about them in the strangest times, like in the shower or at the breakfast table. This is your brain’s way of letting you know you feel a physical attraction to someone and it’s time to look at how they feel about you.
2) You Lick your Lips
Licking your lips is a way not only to show that you’re interested in them, but also to draw their attention down to your lips, encouraging them to think about kissing you. Try this subtle gesture the next time you’re feeling flirty and see if you’ll get an invitation to smooch later on in the evening.
3) You Tease Them
Teasing dates back to childhood, when little boys would deliberately be mean to girls just to grab their attention. Well into adulthood we see that not much has changed. Teasing is a way to show affection for someone but be careful not to let it get too personal, or your crush might take offence.
4) You Move Closer
Moving closer to someone is a great non-verbal way to show you have feelings for them. Leaning in close while they talk or going out of your way to sit closer to them in social situations is a tell-tale sign that you’re interested. It indicates that you would like to get even closer to this person and if you’re lucky, they’ll want the same thing, too.
5) You Share Your Stories
If you find yourself sharing personal stories with someone more and more often, chances are you’re into them. Sharing stories with another person shows that you trust them and want to include them in your life. The people we enjoy talking about our families with are the people we don’t mind opening up to, so think about taking the next step and inviting them for coffee.
6) You Smile
Smiling is the universal human signal to show that you’re enjoying yourself. We are naturally drawn toward people that make us happy, so show that person how they make you feel by opening up and displaying those beautiful, pearly whites. Smiling is an indication that you are happy and relaxed, exactly the way your crush should make you feel.
7) You Toss your Hair
Hair tossing is a subconscious action to indicate attraction dating back to Cro-Magnon days. Women will play with their hair as a way to show that they’re interested in being more than just friends. Whether you’re the one doing the flirting or receiving the flirting, a simple toss of the hair is a great signal for all parties involved.
8) Everything Reminds You of Them
From cheesy jingles on the radio to veggies in the supermarket to ads on the side of a bus, almost everything you see reminds you of that person. If you find yourself noticing their name scrolling through credits or their favourite author in the window of a bookstore, you know you’ve got it bad.
9) You Open Up Your Body
When you are talking to someone you are romantically interested in, your body has a natural way of opening up to let them know you are thinking about them in a more-than-friends kind of way. Your shoulders move to face them and your hips orient themselves toward their hips. This is normal for your body and might even happen without you noticing!
10) You Laugh at Their Jokes
Everything always seems a little bit funnier when you’re romantically interested in somebody. You find yourself laughing louder than usual and here and there even coming up with a few jokes of your own. We laugh to encourage our crush to continue with the conversation and to show enjoyment in your shared activities. Laughing is hugely importance in a relationship as it’s a great indicator of comfort level and social compatibility.
11) You Laugh Even When It’s Not Funny
An even better romantic interest indicator than laughing at someone’s jokes is laughing at their jokes when they’re not funny, just to spare their feelings. This means that you care about the person you’re spending time with and want them to feel good about themselves. Showing support is a large part of building a relationship and this is a way to show that you’re ready to lay the foundation.
12) You Mirror Them
As imitation is the highest form of flattery, so mimicking someone’s physical movements and speech patterns is the best way to let them know you want to get to know them better. Matching movements like touching your face or crossing your legs is an easy way to get the two of you on the same page. And, it’s an easy test to see if they’re interested, too.
13) You Tilt Your Head
Women tend to tilt their heads and look up at someone to show that they’re intrigued by what the other person has to say. It may be a chance to show submission in a subtle way or a silent way to flirtatiously challenge what their partner has to say. If a woman moves her head in this way, it’s a sure sign that she’s at least interested in what’s coming out of the other person’s mouth.
14) You Don’t Blink
We blink less when we’re captivated by something, whether it be a book, a movie, a pet, or a hobby. The same goes for interest in people. When we are attracted to someone our pupils dilate and we close our eyelids much less often, indicating a desire to be closer.
15) You Remember the Little Things
You know you’ve got it bad when you find yourself remembering little details about that special someone. Small things like their middle name or their favourite colour will come out in conversation and you’ll start to think about them when you’re out shopping for yourself. Use this to your advantage, and pick up something small you know they’ll like to show your affection.
16) You Call Them by a Nickname
While cute at times, nicknames can be a little tricky. If you start calling your crush by something a little sillier, try to mention it when no one else is around. This way it will stay between the two of you and create a special space when you’re alone.
17) Their Opinion Matters
We are about the opinion of those people who matter most to us, so if you find you’re seeking out their wisdom on a regular basis, chances are you want more than just a casual relationship. Take their opinion into consideration but don’t try to change yourself just to gain their approval.
18) You Do Your Research
When they mention something new, you do your homework so the next time you get together you’ll have more to talk about. Researching your crush’s interests is a great way to show interest in them and their lives. It won’t go unnoticed and will only take a little bit of your time to show this person that you care about them.
19) You Dress to Impress
When you like someone, you want to put your best self forward. Taking a little bit of extra time to get ready before you see them next is a natural process that all humans experience. You should take extra time to present yourself in the best light; this shows you can take care of yourself and can, in turn, also take care of the one you desire.
20) You Stick Your Thumbs Out
Studies have shown that men will stick their thumbs out of their pockets (think cowboy style) to that they are sexually interested in someone. Next time you go to a party, check out where men place their hands. If the fingers are in the pocket but the thumb’s poking out, chances are good his sexual interest has been piqued.
21) You Feel Jealous
Jealousy is an innate human emotion that can be very difficult to control. It is an animalistic instinct that tells your brain you don’t want your partner mating with anyone else. A bit of jealousy is normal and can be a good motivator to treat your partner well (ensuring they won’t leave you for someone else) but if you find your jealousy getting out of control try to pinpoint your triggers and start making some changes in your relationship.
22) You Stand Up Straight
Think about birds showing off their feathers, or a peacock strutting around. Humans stand up taller when they are interested in mating with someone, to broaden the shoulders and give off the impression of an alpha in the pack: very strong and healthy. Often times we have set our shoulders back before we even realize we are doing it.
23) You Care
A definite way to know if you’re into somebody is if you find yourself really caring about that person. What they think and feel actually matters to you. You go out of your way to make them happy and sacrifice yourself to give them what they deserve. Caring about someone is the first step to a great relationship and is a signal that you’re thinking about making a move.
24) You See Them in the Future
Finally, if you can picture yourself with that person in the future, you’ve definitely got a crush brewing. Imagining spending the weekend away, introducing them to your parents, or even having a family with someone is a gigantic indicator that you are seriously interested. Make the first move: there’s no love not worth taking a risk for.
