How to Start a Relationship: Things You Need to Know
If you have watched every rom-com movie, how to start a relationship is all the same. Two people meet, there is love at first sight, minor inconveniences, and a whole lot of happily ever after. While this works great for movie makers, nothing about this is real when it comes to real life.
Starting a relationship in real life can be tricky for many people, especially in this day and age. Thankfully, multiple ways will help you start a new relationship. All you need to do is understand them and know exactly what you are looking for. That being said, it is attainable to have a happy and healthy relationship, and we will tell you exactly how to do that.
How to Start a Relationship?
Before you think of starting a relationship with somebody, it is absolutely essential to question yourself first. This will help you know what exactly you are looking for. Is it an actual relationship or just something short-term and fun?
#1 Find a Partner
People often tend to jump into relationships because they do not like being single. However, that is wrong as you have no clue whether that person is right for you in the long run. Hence, if you know you are looking for a relationship, then the first thing you need to do is to reflect on what you need from your partner.
What are the qualities of a person that attracts you? Some common ones would be whether they are career oriented and their physical features. Make a list to have a better understanding.
An interesting way to meet people is by finding people who share common interests with you. For instance, if you like reading books, join a book club; if you love playing sports, join a sports club; if you love working out, seek someone at your gym who shares the same passion. This is a brilliant way to start to a relationship as you’ll already share common interests.
You can also consider someone from your own social circle, but don’t force a relationship with a friend. It should be a two-way street. Lastly, you can also choose dating sites or apps. While this may be difficult, there are always some genuine people out there whom you could possibly click with.
#2 Create a Connection
Once you feel there’s something between you and your potential partner, you will need to create a connection. Start by spending as much time as possible with each other and even speak on the phone. Make sure you two talk about your life, ask genuine questions, and ensure to pay very close attention to all answers.
The more you listen and learn about a person, the stronger the relationship can be. It also shows that you care for the person. As much as possible, focus more on knowing the individual as a person rather than getting in bed with them.
Most important of all, create ample trust, so always be consistent with your behavior and be there whenever your partner needs you, physically and emotionally. Also, only make promises that you are certain you can keep, and always be truthful, so if you find something uncomfortable, be open about it. The more honest and vulnerable you are right from the start, you will allow the relationship to last longer and grow deeper.
#3 The Commitment
Always express your interest in a long-term relationship. No matter how often you’ll meet, always be vocal about the fact that you want to be with him or her as the other person may not necessarily know about your intentions. Be open to their opinions too.
Once you have officially started a relationship, make sure you’ll talk about boundaries. Everyone’s different, so certain rules should be made so that both of you can be happy.
These may include whether it is okay to be friends with an ex and things like that. Discuss this right at the very start of the relationship.
Additionally, be fine with the fact that there will be compromises since no relationship works without a certain level of compromise. This may be hard, and you may have to do things you don’t like. If you are totally uncomfortable with something, in particular, have an open conversation about it to find a middle ground.
What are the Do’s and Don’ts of New Relationships?
Although you may already have rules and compromises, here are some of the things to keep in mind to have a healthy relationship:
#1 Don’t worry about labels
It is very easy to be labeled or to label things, but there are times when there may still be some ambiguity in a new relationship. So, to avoid awkwardness, always stick to introducing them by their name as that can never be misconstrued.
#2 Do reduce stress to meet parents
Meeting parents is always an awkward thing in any new relationship, so don’t wait for your partner to do so. You start off the conversation about meeting your parents; thus, reducing the whole stress behind it.
#3 Don’t move in too fast
If you want a relationship to work for the long-term, it is crucial that you do not move too fast. This includes moving in right away or being engaged in just a few months. A relationship will get stronger only when you’ll take the time to understand and learn about each other over the course of time.
#4 Do learn to divide your time
You cannot be joined at the hip in a relationship. There needs to be a certain amount of space between the two of you’ll.
Ideally, the 50-30-20 rule makes perfect sense for everyone. This means that you can spend no more than 50% of your time with your partner, 30% of your time with family and friends, and 20% of your time by yourself. This division avoids the relationship from burning out or losing your identity or your friends.
Conclusion
While this may not necessarily be the only way on how to start a relationship, following these guidelines will definitely help you find a long-term relationship. No matter what, always learn to be patient and understanding since that’s where you win most of the battle. Also, make sure you follow the do’s and don’ts we have mentioned earlier for a relationship to last long.
