Mystery talks about this, stop dating he says. If you want to end up in friends zone, date. If you want to actually have a relationship, start just hanging out a couple times but building up the ladder. So touching early and escalating.

Dating is far more formal which means you have to go through this process and it costs you money etc and you might not have even touched the girl before you go to kiss her on date 3. No wonder its uncomfortable.

Mystery also talks about just becuase you've slept with someone early doesn't rule out the chance for relationship, but if your in friends zone it pretty much does.