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Relationships take some work. They require us to accept a person into our lives and figure out how to balance their needs with our own. It can be a lot of navigate and if the timing isn’t quite right when you enter into a relationship, that can spell disaster.
Usually though, there are some signs that you are ready for a relationship. Often times, they are also things you can think about ahead of time, rather than waiting until you’re already dating someone. Whether you have been in a relationship before or not, here is a checklist of ten signs to help clue you in as to if the present is a good time for you to be in a relationship.
You've Defined Relationship
Do you know what a "relationship" means to you? Because it can mean different things to different people. Before you jump into a relationship, you should have an idea about your definition of relationship. That way, you can share it with your potential partner to make sure you two are on the same page. If you still aren't sure what a relationship is to you, you may want to do a little soul searching before you jump into one and realize your definition doesn't match your partner's. Source: Shutterstock.comYou've Witnessed Real Couples
We can often get caught up in our dream relationships or what we see on TV, but before a relationship you should have been able to learn and observe about relationships in real world settings. Relationships surround us every day, so even if it's not immediately obvious, just think on what dos and don'ts you've observed from watching your parents, your friends, even your past relationships. You get a sense of real relationship challenges, but also what the good ones look like, too. Source: Shutterstock.comYou Have The Time
If your daily schedule is packed completely tight, now might not be the best time to jump into a relationship. Dating someone means needing to make time for them, and if you barely have time to do all the things you want for yourself, it wouldn't really be fair. You should stop doing what you love just to be in a relationship, and it's also not to say that you can't be busy and have a BF — it just requires you to take a hard look at how you manage your time and see if it's really possible at this time to commit to someone else. Source: Shutterstock.comYou've Developed Communication Skills
Communication is so important in a relationship, because it's also the foundation for other aspects like trust and honesty. If you have trouble communicating with people, that could forecast a tough time in a relationship when you need to express how you feel. Instead of throwing yourself into a relationship, just practice being a little more open in your friend and family relationships until it starts to feel more natural so when you are dating someone, you have a solid foundation. Source: Shutterstock.comYou Can Set Boundaries
It's easy to let a new relationship become your one and only focus in your life. While it's good to share time with this new partner, it's not really a good idea to completely lose yourself in the relationship. You should think about setting and discussing boundaries that let you maintain your own life while sharing in this new relationship. If you haven't thought about what boundaries could look like for you, you may want to think about that before starting a relationship. Source: Shutterstock.comYou Know Why You Want One
Think about the reasons you want to enter a relationship - is it because you really like this certain person? That's great. However, if you can trace it back to jealousy that your BFF has a boyfriend or you recently got dumped, those seem more like situations where it's less about what you want and more feeling like you need a relationship to prove something. If you're facing that kind of pressure from yourself, now probably isn't right for a relationship. Source: Shutterstock.comYou're Cool Just With You
Are you able to be single and enjoy time just with yourself? Being able to spend time with just yourself is super important and it can give you a lot of clarity about your hopes, dreams and goals - and knowing these things can make you enter a relationship more clearheaded. Developing a relationship with yourself is important. If you want a relationship simply because you can't stand being single, you may be trying to force something before you are ready. Source: Shutterstock.comYou're Cool With Sharing
Just as you should be okay being on your own, when you do transition into a relationship, you should be okay with sharing and compromising with them. If you don't feel comfortable with the idea of needing to factor another person into your plans or life, than now probably isn't the right time for a relationship. Source: Shutterstock.comYou Respect Others' Decisions
Even if you are ready for a relationship, you can't make another person be ready. You have to be both patient to people who are still trying to figure out for themselves if they want a relationship, and understanding if it turns out that's not what they want. A relationship involves another person, so by showing you care about other people's dating decisions actually shows that you are someone who would be supportive for your partner in a relationship. Source: Shutterstock.comYou Trust Your Gut
The bottom line though is there's no magic way to ever know if you are 100% ready for a relationship. A lot of it also comes down to just trusting your gut. Everyone makes mistakes in relationships, even if they were pretty prepared for the commitment, but the important thing is that you learn from them and you'll be even more ready to handle relationships in the future. Source: Shutterstock.comWhen did you know that you were ready for a relationship? What are other signs that you think show someone is ready for a relationship? Tell us in the comments!
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