How to Avoid the Boy Who Knows You Like Him

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 12, 2023 References

So he knows, huh? If you're not ready to take the next step with a guy that knows you like him you probably want to stay out of his way. Start by cutting back on most of your contact with him, both online and in person. Avoid common areas that you normally see him, and if this fails you can do your best to ignore him. Avoiding a person is never a permanent fix though. It will only buy you time while you figure out how to approach the situation.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Staying Out of His Way

1
Change your schedule. The best way to avoid him is to avoid certain areas you know he'll be at certain times. If you tend to bump into him on a daily basis, try walking a different way to class, or to wherever it is you are going. If you see him at your locker, try changing the time you go to drop off and pick up books.
2
Change seats. If he's in your class and sits in the front, try sitting in the back. If you eat lunch at a table he sits at, try switching it up and sit with a different friend group. Changing where you sit every day can also be a good way to change your routine and meet new people while avoiding the boy.^{[1]
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3
Avoid hanging out with his friends. The easiest way to avoid a person is to avoid people that he hangs out with. If you have mutual friends, you'll want to think about who he will be with on what days. If you have multiple friend groups, you can just bop around between the ones that aren't friends with him while you sort out your feelings.
- If you have a good friend he hangs out with, confide in that person that you are trying to avoid him. They'll be able to help you out by telling you where he is if they're hanging out with him.
4
Avoid online contact. Just as important as avoiding him in person is avoiding him online. Don't read messages or updates from him, and definitely avoid responding to posts he makes. You can hide his updates from your Facebook feed while still staying friends. Out of sight, out of mind!^{[2]
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5
Keep texts or calls short. If he has your number and calls you or texts you, keep your messages short and to the point. If he texts you and asks what you're up to, just tell him “not much” and don't ask what he's up to.
- Keep in mind, if you are just trying to avoid him for a short time period, you don't want to give him signals that you don't like him. You just want to avoid carrying on a long conversation that will put you in an awkward situation.
6
Pick up a new hobby. If the situation is serious and you can't stop thinking about him, try picking up a new hobby. This way you can avoid putting yourself in a situation where you'll see him, and you can give yourself a distraction to keep from thinking about him.^{[3]
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- Do something that will take your total concentration, like doing a puzzle. You can also find something to do outdoors, like identifying plants or insects.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Ignoring Him

1
Avoid eye contact. If you can't physically avoid him, the next best thing to do is to ignore him. If you sit across the room from him in class and he is looking your way, don't get caught looking at him when he's looking at you.^{[4]
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- Of course, if he is talking directly to you, you don't want to run away or pretend like he's not there! Just play it cool and be polite.
2
Avoid laughing or smiling at him. If he makes a funny joke, avoid laughing at it. You like him, so you'll want to smile, but try to go easy on it for a while. You don't want to make it totally obvious and bring more attention to yourself.
3
Walk quickly. If you can't avoid passing him in your daily routine, make the exposure time minimal. This way you can remove any opportunity for an awkward conversation or smiling at him. If you're on your way to class, you can pretend like you are running late. Just keep your head down and walk faster!
4
Use body language to make yourself look unavailable. If you can't walk away from the situation, use your body language to deflect his attention. If he approaches you at the bus stop, give him signs that you are not interested in starting a conversation. Keep your arms crossed. Don't face his direction -- turn your back if you can.
- Stay busy with a task, even if it is silly, such as rearranging some papers, so that you appear unavailable and uninterested in what he's doing.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Planning the Next Step

1
Sort out your feelings. While you're avoiding him or ignoring him, you need to consider ways to resolve the situation because he isn't going to suddenly disappear. How do you feel about him? What do you want your relationship to look like? Think about what you specifically want out of a relationship, whether it is friendship or something more.
2
Play it cool. If it's someone you know well and see a lot, he's probably unavoidable and hard to ignore. If you find yourself getting worked up over seeing him, try some relaxation methods, such as stretching out and taking a deep breath. Remind yourself it is all a passing thing.^{[5]
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3
Be patient. Some situations might take a lot of time to work out. This might mean that you confess your feelings openly to find that he feels the same way. Or it might mean that he doesn't feel the same way. Or that you both feel the same way but still want to be friends and take it easy.^{[6]
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Warnings

If he starts talking to you or you are normally close, do not ignore him or avoid him completely, just avoid excessive or unnecessary contact.

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You can't avoid him forever.

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Be nice! While you're trying to avoid him, it might seem to him like you don't like him.

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Don't lay it on too thick.

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