1. Being too forgiving.

If you really like a man, give him a second chance. If he’s apologetic and promises to work on bettering himself, you can even give him a second and third chance. But don’t let him string you along forever if he’s treating you like crap. There’s only a limited amount of get-out-of-jail-free cards in a deck.

2. Refusing to break the rules.

You don’t want to turn into Bonnie and Clyde copies, running around robbing banks. But if your boyfriend wants to push you against an elevator wall for a quickie before the doors pop open, go for it. Without spontaneity, relationships become boring fast.

3. Trying too hard to be nice.

You don’t have to sleep with a guy, just because he bought you a $4.00 drink during happy hour. You don’t owe him anything. Unless you’re planning on entering the sex industry, he can’t buy your body.

4. Letting him make all of the decisions.

You might think you’re being nice by sitting back and letting him choose the restaurant, the movie, and the sex position, but it’s actually the worst thing you could do. Men want to date women who know what they want. Don’t be afraid to get a little bossy.

5. Never saying “no.”

You don’t have to agree to every date you’re asked on. You don’t have to answer every text message, either. If you don’t want anything to do with a certain someone, you have the power to delete his number. It’s not mean. It’s just life.

6. Biting your tongue to keep the peace.

If your date goes on a bullshit rant about how much Neil Patrick Harris sucks, put him in his place. He’ll like your feistiness. Even better, he’ll like that you have your own opinions. No man wants to date a clone of himself, so don’t blindly agree to everything he says to try to sound polite.

7. Being tame in bed.

By now, you’ve heard that men want a lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets. Even if he loves how sweet and innocent you act during the day, he’ll still want you to turn into an animal at night.

8. Dressing conservatively.

You shouldn’t walk around in tight shirts and miniskirts if it makes you uncomfortable, but you really shouldn’t be ashamed of your beautiful body either. Embrace your looks! You’re gorgeous, so don’t hesitate to walk around the house naked. Your boyfriend certainly won’t mind it.

9. Being nice, even when he doesn’t deserve it.

I don’t care how much you hate confrontation. You can’t avoid it. If you’re pissed at your boyfriend, let him know. If he thinks you’re genuinely fine with his BS behavior, then he’ll never have the chance to fix the problem.

10. Putting his needs before your own.

Committing yourself to another person doesn’t give you permission to neglect yourself. He shouldn’t be your main priority, because you still have yourself to worry about. So stop treating yourself like shit. It’s not selfish to put your needs first. It’s survival.