5 signs you’re ready to take the relationship to the next level
Before COVID-19 and social distancing came along, you’d gone on a few dates with your special someone. With you staying at home now and unable to meet physically, it might be a good time to start thinking if you’re ready to make it official. Here are some signs that show you’re ready to make the commitment.
By April Zara Chua
Every relationship is different. Some couples will naturally get into the committed relationship stage after going on a few dates without even discussing it, while others will probably need more time and a little nudge to make it official. Here are some signs to help you find out if you’re ready to change your status from “Dating” to “In a Relationship”.
You treat each other like you are already in a committed relationship
How do you treat each other? Are you constantly talking/texting during the circuit breaker period, before COVID-19 did you see each other multiple times a week, were you each other’s de facto weekend brunch buddies, and more importantly, were you not dating anyone else but each other? Things are looking good if you fall into this category as you are already filling boyfriend/girlfriend roles. It’s probably the right time to start a conversation about making it official.
If they were constantly unable to meet up or make plans with you, and take ages to respond to a text, it is a good time to reflect on the dynamics of the relationship and find out if both of you are working towards a committed relationship.
You’ve both shared a little bit about your families (or met them!)
You know things are about to get real when the families get involved. Most dating couples tend to put off the “meet the parents” session until they are sure they see a future in their relationship. It’s not just about meeting the family, it’s also always a good sign when your partner is willing to share bits and pieces about their family like how many siblings they have, how they were raised, what their parents are like, etc.
If the topic has never come up in any of your conversations, don’t be disheartened. Some people are naturally more protective about their families but of course, you should try to discern if they are being reserved or evasive.
There’s still a good balance between your lives as individuals and as a couple
It’s easy to get caught up in the romance in the early stages of dating — they don’t call it the honeymoon phase for nothing! But what’s important is that you guys have a healthy balance of me-time and couple-time as this shows that you respect each other’s time and personal interests even before going into a committed relationship.
If you see that you’re beginning to have less me-time and it’s affecting you, it’s always good to take a step back, air this out with them and find ways to work around it.
Your friends are excited for you
It is usually a good sign if you’ve met each other’s friends and they shared that they’ve heard so much about you or dropped comments about how great you look together as a couple. This implies a few things: they talk about you in your absence, they can see the chemistry between you two, and that they are genuinely happy for you.
Friends offer an outsider’s perspective and can usually pick up on signs that may not be too obvious to you. Their opinions carry some weight so you should also proceed with caution if they say otherwise.
You talk about your future together
A clear sign that indicates you are both ready to make the commitment is when you are comfortable discussing the future — your individual hopes and aspirations, and your shared future. This can range from something short-term like weekend and holiday plans together to long-term ones further down the line like sharing of views on marriage, buying a house and starting a family together.
On the other hand, if you are seeing someone who has expressed that they are still trying to move on from their previous relationship or can’t see themselves settling down anytime soon, this is an indication that your partner is not ready to make a commitment and you may need to give them more time.
Trust your gut
At the end of the day, every relationship is different. Some people take a longer time to warm up than others, so be patient and don’t write anyone off just because they don’t fall in any of the categories. The most important thing is to communicate with each other and be honest about what you are looking for in a romantic partner.