6 Signs A Non-Monogamous Relationship Might Be Right For You

Monogamy is our cultural default, and for many people, it’s their preferred relationship structure. But that doesn’t mean monogamous relationships are right for everybody.

Plenty of folks would be more satisfied in a non-monogamous relationship; in fact, 32% of Americans say their ideal relationship is non-monogamous to some degree, according to a 2020 YouGov poll.

Non-monogamy is an umbrella term used to describe any relationship style that is not romantically or sexually exclusive between two people. And unlike infidelity, everyone involved is fully aware of and consents to the dynamic.

Some of the main non-monogamous relationship structures you may have heard of include monogamish, swinging, open relationships and polyamory. (Here’s anexplainer if you’d like to learn the differences between each.)

Perhaps you’ve been hearing more about non-monogamy of late — on a podcast, in the news, on social media, or in the plotline of your favorite TV show — and the concept intrigues you. Or maybe you don’t know much about it but are interested to find out more.

We asked non-monogamous folks to share some of the signs that this type of relationship might be the right fit for you. Here’s what to consider:

1. You feel stifled by monogamy.

Sarah Stroh, a non-monogamous writer who runs the @monogamish_me Instagram account, told HuffPost that when she was in monogamous relationships in the past, curtailing her desire to connect with other people “always felt like a sacrifice” and sometimes made her feel resentful toward her partners.

“To this day, I’m still not sure how much of the problem was limiting my connections with others and how much of it was that I couldn’t even talk about the fact that I had these desires without