Do you ever feel like your friends have everything figured out when it comes to relationships? They can tell you which bar has the best karaoke, where to meet potential mates, and how to make a man fall head over heels for you. That is until they start talking about what happens after the first date.
Where does that come into play? What if things don’t work out in the end? These are all valid questions to ask before getting serious about someone. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy answering them. Fortunately, we’ve got your back!
Here are six things you should consider before getting into a serious relationship:
Don’t jump into things without being sure of your feelings
First of all, you’re better off getting to know someone as a friend before trying to get into a serious relationship. This doesn’t mean you should ignore the fact that your friends might be interested in you. However, it does mean that you need to take things slower.
There are all kinds of reasons why you may or may not feel the same way about someone. If you jump into a relationship without being sure of your feelings, you could find yourself feeling frustrated and even confused. With dating, especially when you’re just getting to know someone, it’s really easy to overthink things.
You could even misread what your date is trying to show you. However, if you take the time to really get to know someone before you decide to take things to the next level, you’ll be way less likely to find yourself disappointed in the end. And that’s not only a waste of a perfectly good relationship, but it’s also a waste of your time.
Be upfront about your expectations
One of the best things you can do to avoid future relationship problems is to be upfront about your expectations from the start. This doesn’t mean you have to tell your date everything you want them to do and when you want them to do it. What it means is that you need to be honest with yourself as well as them.
You may be surprised to learn that there are certain things you want to happen in a relationship before you’ll even consider getting serious about someone. For example, you may not want to get into a relationship unless you’re in love with them.
You may not want to get into a relationship with someone who’s completely wrong for you. You may have some other expectations you want to be upfront about before you get into a serious relationship.
There’s more to a relationship than sex
Sex is a huge part of most relationships, but it’s not the only part. The same goes for any relationship, whether it’s a casual hookup or a serious commitment. In fact, there could be a million things you want to do with your partner other than just have sex with them. You may want to go on dates and spend your free time doing fun things you both enjoy.
You may want to take your partner out to dinner or to a concert. You may want to take your partner to their favorite restaurant again and again. These things may not seem important when you’re just getting to know someone, but they’re important in a relationship. They’re important because they show your partner that you care about them and what they enjoy doing.
Be prepared for disagreements, especially when it comes to money
Money and other disagreements about finances are inevitable in any relationship. No matter how much you love someone and want to be with them, money will come up. You may not always agree about how to pay for things like food, rent, or a mortgage.
You may be one person’s idea of a dream partner and the other person’s idea is completely different. While none of these things are necessarily bad things, they are things to watch out for when you’re getting serious about someone. You’ll want to be ready to discuss how you each feel about these subjects while keeping the important things (like your relationship) first and foremost.
Hold the door for your date or take them out on a date first
One thing you should do before getting into a serious relationship is to hold the door for your date or take them out on a date first. This may seem like a small thing, but it does show your date that you care. It shows that you’re thinking about them and what they like.
It shows that you don’t just want to jump into things and assume they feel the same way you do. It also shows that you’re willing to put in some effort to get to know someone. It’s a small thing, but it’s also a big thing.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of things you should consider before getting serious with someone. While those six things are important, there are others you’ll want to think about as well. Ultimately, it’s a good idea to be realistic with yourself.
If you don’t like the idea of a relationship, it’s better to stay single than to jump into something you’re not sure about. If you’re ready to get serious about someone, you need to make sure you’re ready for it as well.