From the first glances to your first engagement ring, love is a complex and enchanting endeavor. However, before a relationship can start, interest has to be expressed. Learning to pick up on whether or not someone is interested is one of the biggest human conundrums of this day.
So, what are the signs that someone is into you? Can you really tell if someone likes you by body language alone?
It is entirely possible, and we’ve outlined five body language signs below so that you can skip the awkward phase and get right to the professions of love (or like).
1. Leaning Towards You
Our bodies naturally lean towards what we want. It’s a way of pushing us towards our desires instead of away from them.
If the person you’re interested in leans towards you across the table, points their feet in your direction while sitting, or makes every effort to be as close as possible, it’s a huge sign that they’re interested.
You may notice that they make no effort to move away from you if you’re together in the car or sitting next to each other at an event.
2. Eye Contact
Eye contact is one of the most significant signals of human nature to mean someone is interested. It can also signify:
- Trust
- Comfort
- Openness
If you lock eyes with your crush from across the room often, it’s very likely they’re into you too. However, not everyone is big on eye contact, so don’t only use this body signal to figure it out. For those with social anxiety or autistic people, eye contact is often avoided.
3. Brief Touches
If you’re spending time with the person that you like and they frequently give you small touches, they may be interested. Typical touches that signify interest include:
- A light touch on the shoulder
- Touching the hand
- Lingering when handing something to you
- Touching the leg
- Hugging
Some people are naturally touchy and extroverted, but some are not. If you notice that this person is not as touchy with others, it may mean that they’re interested in you personally.
4. Smiling and Laughing
If you notice that someone is laughing at all your jokes, smiling when greeting you, and often smiling in your presence, it could signify that they feel something for you.
If the person smiles and often laughs with you and shows some of the other criteria in this article, they are likely interested. Try smiling and laughing back and see how it goes.
5. Overly Aware Body Posture
Many people who have a crush or feel romantically for someone else without knowing if they feel the same will have some level of nervousness. They may get shaky, forget their words, or even have “overly aware” body posture.
This posture may look like:
- Fidgeting with nails/hand/object
- Tapping legs
- Looking around them often
- Crossing their arms
- Restlessness
- Changing position often
It may just be a sign of anxiety. However, if you notice that they seem more nervous around you than other people, it could be because they have a crush.
Learn more about body language on BetterHelp’s advice column here: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/body-language/
