The beginning of every relationship is always a little weird. You have to get used to another person’s oddities and quirks (and let them get used to yours). Try to figure out what, exactly, is just the right amount to be texting them (too little seems uninterested; too much seems clingy). And, of course, you have to know when the right time is to stop acting polite and proper around them and when you can really become your true, weird self.
You know what’s extra weird? Starting to date someone new after you’ve been single for a while. Whether you’ve been single for your whole life and this is your first actual relationship, or it’s just been a sizeable chunk of time since your last boyfriend or girlfriend, it’s tougher than it should be to jump into something new–no matter how giving, altruistic, and caring you are, you’re kind of used to just having to care about and maintain your relationship with yourself. Having to consistently be concerned with–or, if not “concerned,” involved, perhaps–another person’s life to a degree that’s more significant than your friends and family is an odd transition.
You can make it easier for yourself! Check out these easy ways to prepare and adjust to a new relationship:
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Focus On Your Own Identity.
One of the best things you can do to get ready for any new relationship that is about to come is to focus on yourself first.
The old cliché that you find someone when you’re least looking is, in my experience, very true. I met my husband after I quit my job to travel the world full-time, was happy, in my element, and not even thinking about being with someone. Focusing on myself — what I liked, what made me look forward to the future, what I wanted — made a huge difference in opening space for love to come into my life.
If you think you might want a new relationship soon, spend time getting to know yourself and allowing yourself to be whoever you want. Get a better idea of your likes, dislikes, preferences, and tastes. Have fun alone. Work on being really happy alone. You might find, like many people have, that this sets the perfect stage for love.
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Think About Lessons You’ve Learned.
Thinking about past relationships gone wrong kind of sucks, but it’s also kind of necessary to grow.
Allow yourself go through a very introspective period where you realize that you probably were far from perfect, but also that you have learnt a lot of really valuable lessons in the past.
Before you are ready to enter a new relationship, you should make sure you’ve learned the lessons you’ve needed to from your past ones. A lot of the time, people come into our lives to help teach us something, and if you truly take that to heart and learn what’s meant for you, you’ll be a more loving, open person when the right partner comes along.
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Throw Yourself Into Something.
There’s nothing like getting totally lost in some passionate, creative venture to help kick start love.
If you feel like you haven’t yet discovered a passion that makes you happy, now’s the time to go exploring. You’ll likely find that you feel more alive and engaged — and that this is the perfect opportunity to meet someone new.
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Take Care Of Yourself.
One of the best things about being in a new relationship is all the physical energy that comes with it — the late nights, the dates out, and the new sex!
Because of all that, one thing you can do to prepare is take care of yourself as best as possible. We are big fans of working out and taking care of yourself makes you very happy.
To prepare yourself for a relationship that might be coming soon, make sure you are taking care of your body as well as your mind. Not only will you be glad you had all the energy to keep up with your new relationship, you’ll also feel sexy as hell for your new partner!
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Have An Open Mind.
Finally, there’s nothing more important to prepare for a new relationship than having an open mind.
If you think you are ready to be in a new relationship, make sure you are truly open and available for it before it happens. When the right person comes along, you’ll be glad you gave yourself the time to feel ready.
The transition from singledom to a new relationship can be a little rocky, but it doesn’t have to be. Take the opportunity to start preparing yourself for what’s to come: When you finally meet your love, you’ll be even more excited to jump right in.
