Starting a new relationship can be scary, yet exhilarating.
Whether you’re joining the dating pool after an ugly breakup or giving it a first try, things can go either way.
Sparks can fly on your first date like Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. Or you can end up in a situation like Lucy Hale with her date, flirting with someone else.
To ensure that doesn’t happen to you, this article will give you the best dating tips for new relationships.
6 Best Dating Tips for New Relationships
If new love is in the air for you, you’ll want to sustain this budding romance.
Here are some things you should do:
1. Take It Slow
You must take your time with the relationship. There is no need to dive deep and reveal all your secrets on the first date.
Many will run the other way if you’re way too enthusiastic. Maintain a moderate pace and first get to know each other.
2. Manage other Relationships
Once you start a new relationship, all you want to do is spend time with them.
But, remember, there are other people in your life. Your friends and family have been there for you before your new partner.
Please don’t ignore them. Maintain a balance between all your relationships.
3. Be Honest
Honest communication is a rule Meryl Streep abides by. It’s the key to her long-lasting marriage.
Honesty is just as crucial for a new relationship. You can share less, but whatever you share should be true. Often, lies come back to bite you.
4. Remember Protection
Having sex talk can be uncomfortable if you’re in the initial phase. However, it’s a critical discussion to have.
Even if you’re not taking things to the bedroom yet, talk about your sexual health. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
5. Maintain Independency
Just like managing other relationships, stay focused on yourself too. Don’t lose yourself in this new journey.
According to a relationship columnist, use the 50-30-20 rule. Give not more than 50% of your time to your partner, 30% to your social circle, and 20% to yourself.
6. Plan Fun Dates
Things can quickly get boring if you don’t step it up. Plan fun dates like a picnic, hiking, or visiting an arcade.
They don’t have to be elaborate, just something you both enjoy.
You can turn date night into game night by playing card games such as Date Deck, or We’re Not Really Strangers.
What Should You Avoid in a New Relationship?
Maintaining a new relationship isn’t hard; you just need to put in some effort. Now that we’ve covered what you should do, here are some things you should avoid.
Social Media
Initially, keep your new romance under the covers. There’s no need to broadcast it to everyone.
When you’re just starting, it’s better to focus on each other first. Putting it on social media will add unnecessary pressure.
Long-Term Plans
It’s recommended that you don’t make elaborate plans at the start. You don’t know yet where the relationship will go. It can be intimidating for your significant other.
Oversharing
You don’t need to dump your entire past in the beginning. Keep your deepest, darkest secrets until you know your partner well.
Besides, sharing less will leave them wanting more.
Comparison
Always remember that there are two new individuals in a relationship.
You’re not the person you were in a previous relationship. Your new partner also shouldn’t be compared to your ex.
24/7 Availability
Lovey-dovey texts, face timing, and regular dates make up for the initial giddy days. But it’s better to manage the time you give to your new partner.
If you’re available 24/7, it’ll be expected of you in the future too. If you’re busy and not available, that can cause some trouble in paradise.
Being Someone You’re Not
Many people want to give the best impression to their new partner. Don’t compromise on your values.
Always be your real, authentic self so your partner knows who they’re dating.
New relationship? Here’s how to not ruin it. @Susan Winter
How Should You Act When Dating Someone New?
Traditional dating culture meant you had to act a certain way to ensure you got married. But modern dating is very different.
Relationship coach Chris Armstrong believes that the honeymoon phase of a new relationship is a fake start.
In the beginning, most people act differently—the bubble bursts when you go back to your true self.
Embrace your weirdness and quirks. If something makes you uncomfortable, learn to say no.
Try that your insecurities don’t interfere with your relationship. Also, don’t rely on your significant other for everything.
If you feel like you make the same mistakes in each relationship, refer to some advice books.
How Long Should Someone Date Before Getting Into a Relationship?
Often, you find yourself confused that if you’re dating does it mean you’re in a relationship? Not necessarily.
Things are usually made official after going on a few dates.
There can’t be a particular number of dates to go to before you start a relationship. It differs for each individual.
A relationship expert, Sarah Kahan, states there’s no set rule. However, she did mention some signs to know if you’re ready to make it official.
Communication
You talk about everything. Sharing all the trivial moments of your day to express your more profound concerns. You don’t feel the need to hide anything.
Presence In Life
You spend a lot of time together. You’re always at your partner’s place, or they’re at yours.
In case of adversity, you know you can rely on them. You trust them to be there for you instead of running away.
If you’re making it official, we suggest you do so with flowers and a card to make the moment special.
How Many Dates Until You Sleep Together?
Now comes the bigger question. When do we sleep together?
A study conducted by Brian J. Willoughby, Jason S. Carroll, and Dean M. Busby stated that almost 48% of people wait a couple of weeks to be intimate. 36% sleep together on the first date. We also have a 9% pool of people who have sex first and date later.
There’s no set number. You should only sleep together if you’re comfortable doing so. Don’t give in to the pressure. Make sure your partner is on the same page as you.
Usually, women prefer 6–8 dates to become intimate. Men prefer 3–4.
It all depends on you. Do so only if you can communicate well. You should be able to express how you feel before, during, and after sex.
How Many Dates Until You Should Kiss?
Kissing is more casual than sleeping together. However, that doesn’t mean you should kiss if you’re not feeling like it.
Fairy tales have taught us that kissing on the first date is so romantic. It’s the first question your friend asks you when you come home.
A Branded Research survey found out that almost half of their 14,000 people survey group think kissing on the first date is okay.
You can kiss on the first date, but you can also wait for a few more. The main thing is that you feel respected.
Giving space and focusing on the personality first is admired by everyone. If you don’t kiss on the first date, texting is a great way to show your interest.
What is the 3-Date Rule?
The 3 Date Rule is perhaps the oldest in the dating book. It refers to waiting for 3 days before moving things to the bedroom.
FUN FACT: The 3 Date Rule was made famous by Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City.
Usually, it applies more to women than to men. If you don’t conform to it, society often puts offensive labels on you.
Women who want to wait longer are considered prudes. Those who don’t wait are labeled immoral.
For men, if you wait, you’re respectful, but if you don’t, you’re a womanizer.
But you don’t have to be shackled by these labels. Times are changing. You’re free to do what you want and disregard them.
However, the 3-Date Rule is out. Now, women prefer to wait for five days to open their bedroom doors. You can wait longer.
Just remember, it’s up to you. Don’t feel pressured, nor should you pressure your partner into doing something they aren’t ready for.
What Do You Talk About on Date Night?
After successfully navigating the initial relationship plans, you go on many dates. People are often confused about what to talk about.
We’ve got you covered. Here are some conversation starters for date nights.
Talk About Work
You can ask them how their job is going. What do they do in their free time? Work topics are good if you don’t want to get too personal but still show interest.
Some questions that you can ask are:
- What do you do for a living?
- Do you like your job?
- What’s your dream job?
Ask About The Family
You can skim over the ordinary details. If they have siblings or if they belong to some other city or country.
If they’re not from your culture, you can ask them what it was like to grow up in theirs.
Here are a few interesting questions:
- Where’s your family from?
- What was your childhood like?
- Your favorite memory with your family.
What Makes Them Feel Special
This topic is mainly to get to know them better. You can ask them about their likes and dislikes, favorite hobbies, snacks, and places.
The best thing about this is that you can use it later to plan something for them. You’ll better understand how they want to be treated.
You can ask:
- Best gifts you received/want.
- Your ideal date.
- What makes a perfect day for you.
This or That Questions
You can dive into 20 random, playful questions. Give them two options and ask what they would prefer. It’s the simplest way to get to know each other.
Some examples are:
- Coffee or tea?
- Flowers or chocolates?
- Mountains or beach
- Casual attire or formal?
Wish List
Ask them what they want in life. It can be general or something specific, like their dream car.
You can talk about their values and philosophies. What things in life do they prefer over others?
Romance
Once your relationship has bloomed, you can enter more romantic waters. Talk about sexual experiences, hot memories, or what attire they want to see you in.
These may be risqué, but they’ll bring both of you closer.
Conclusion
Freddie Prinze Jr. reminds us that when you’re single, you can be reckless and selfish. Once you enter into a relationship, you have to be mindful of the other person.
There are a lot of do’s and don’ts of a new relationship. They might feel overwhelmed. You might become too anxious, but all you need to do is give it some time.
Remember that if you’ve found a special person for yourself, you need to cherish them.
The above-mentioned tips will help you do that. Happy dating from us!
