This article was co-authored by Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT
and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden
. Alysha Jeney is a Licensed Relationship Therapist, the Owner of Modern Love Counseling, and the Co-Founder of The Modern Love Box. She specializes in relationship therapy, intimacy building, and existential exploration. Alysha holds a BA in Psychology from The Metropolitan State University of Denver and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling from Regis University. She has been featured in publications such as The Washington Post and The Huffington Post.
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If you really like a guy but he isn’t giving you what you need, acting like you don’t care about him might send him running back into your arms. Acting like you don’t care can be tough, but it gets easier with practice. Read through some of these strategies to learn how you can make him think you don’t care about him (even if you secretly do).
Steps
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He’ll feel snubbed and slightly offended. If you need to respond to him, use something like “okay” or “cool” to get your message across. You can also try waiting a few hours before responding to him so he doesn’t think you’re waiting eagerly by the phone.
- Also, try putting periods at the end of your messages, and don’t use emojis or LOLs. The more monotone the text looks, the better.
- Keep in mind that if you wait too long to respond, he might think you’re ghosting him. You can wait a while, but respond to him within a day if you want to keep talking. [1]
X
Expert Source
Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT
Licensed Relationship Therapist Expert Interview. 11 August 2021. - Do not play hard to get all the time because many people do not like playing games. [2]
X
Expert Source
Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT
Licensed Relationship Therapist Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.
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Don’t invite him over or ask to hang out. Wait until he hits you up first, then let him know you’ll have to check your schedule. Tell him you’re pretty busy, but you could probably squeeze him in at some point. [3] X Expert Source Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT
Licensed Relationship Therapist Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.- If you see him in person, make eye contact and smile, but don’t go over to him. Wait until he approaches you first.
- If he sends you a text late at night, he’s probably looking for a booty call. In that case, it’s probably best not to respond until the morning.
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Make him think you just don’t like talking to him. If he texts you, only reply to messages about making plans or going out sometime. If he tries to chat with you about anything else, don’t respond, or say that you’re busy and you have to go. [4] X Research source
- Say something like, “Wish I could chat, but I’m super busy. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
- This could also work for in-person conversations, too. Keep them brief, and let him know that you have other places to be.
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Getting physical shows that you like his attention. Don’t kiss him, make out with him, or have sex with him. The more you can keep him at arm’s length, the better. [5] X Research source
- This will also help you control your emotions. Oftentimes, people confess how much they like someone during an intimate moment.
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Don’t ask for his help, either. If you’re having a problem or you need an outside opinion, ask a friend or a family member, not him. If you ask for his input, you’re showing him that you care about what he thinks, which is the opposite of what you want. [6] X Research source
- Even things like, “Do you like my outfit?” shows that you care about his opinion. Just don’t ask!
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Casually flaunt how many other dudes have hit on you lately. Or, answer a text message in front of him from another guy you’re talking to. The more he thinks you’re getting attention elsewhere, the better.
- To make this really subtle, try getting your friends to talk about you with him. Have them tell him how much attention you’ve been getting from other dudes lately.
Expert AnswerQIs it risky to play hard to get?
Licensed Relationship TherapistAlysha Jeney is a Licensed Relationship Therapist, the Owner of Modern Love Counseling, and the Co-Founder of The Modern Love Box. She specializes in relationship therapy, intimacy building, and existential exploration. Alysha holds a BA in Psychology from The Metropolitan State University of Denver and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling from Regis University. She has been featured in publications such as The Washington Post and The Huffington Post.EXPERT ADVICEYes, it is risky because many people do not like playing games and do not understand mixed messages.
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Make it a point to leave hangouts pretty early. Tell him you have to go do something else or that you’re simply just tired. He’ll probably wonder why he’s not fun enough to hang out with, and it will leave him feeling confused.
- Try to hang out with him for a couple of hours at most. Any longer than a few hours and he’s probably going to realize that you like hanging out with him.
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Hang out with friends and dive into your hobbies. Post pics about your fun adventures on social media where he can see them. Don’t take him into account at all, and don’t rearrange your life just so he fits in it better. [7] X Research source
- Focusing on your own life is also a great way to eventually stop caring about him at all.
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Have a spa day or go out for a hike in nature. The more you can be kind to yourself, the better. This is especially important if you’re dealing with a guy who doesn’t care about you like you care about him. Instead of waiting for someone else to sweep you off your feet, do it for yourself! [8] X Research source
- Self care could also look like doing yoga, practicing meditation, listening to good music, or reading a new book.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat is the correct way to play hard to get?Alysha Jeney is a Licensed Relationship Therapist, the Owner of Modern Love Counseling, and the Co-Founder of The Modern Love Box. She specializes in relationship therapy, intimacy building, and existential exploration. Alysha holds a BA in Psychology from The Metropolitan State University of Denver and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling from Regis University. She has been featured in publications such as The Washington Post and The Huffington Post.In the beginning, you can play a little hard to get and not be available immediately. But always follow up with an alternative option. Let the other person know when you can spend time with them or what you would be interested in doing.Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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References
- ↑ Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT. Licensed Relationship Therapist. Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.
- ↑ Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT. Licensed Relationship Therapist. Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.
- ↑ Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT. Licensed Relationship Therapist. Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.
- ↑ https://hernorm.com/how-to-show-him-you-dont-care-anymore/
- ↑ https://hernorm.com/how-to-show-him-you-dont-care-anymore/
- ↑ https://hernorm.com/how-to-show-him-you-dont-care-anymore/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=395&v=mHq2NO-2hEM&feature=youtu.be
- ↑ https://www.bolde.com/stop-caring-guy-clearly-doesnt-care/