15 Tips for Starting a New Relationship

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The start of a new relationship can be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. It can be scary when you are putting yourself out there, but being with someone you truly like can also be exhilarating. 

But are there any new relationship tips that can ensure that you take healthy steps that benefit both you and the relationship? 

Yes, certain new relationship advice can set your relationship on the right path while ensuring that your individual interests are also protected. It can be a way to protect yourself emotionally, mentally, and physically while things are still new. 

Read this article to learn how to start a new relationship on the right note so that it sets the foundation for a strong bond. 

How do you know that you are ready for a new relationship?

A new relationship usually comes with its own expectations and demands. But if you are ready for it, it can add a sparkle to your life by being the source of immense happiness for you. 

So, ensure you are ready for a new relationship before you decide to get into one. Take time to resolve the feelings attached to your past relationship and when you find someone you genuinely like. 

One of the important new relationship tips you can’t ignore is that try not to force yourself to date someone just for the sake of it. Let your instincts guide you. 

5 steps to take before starting a new relationship

Are you wondering what to do in a new relationship that would give you both the best chance for the relationship to succeed? 

Here are five steps to take before dating someone new. These new relationship tips will ensure that you both get off on the right foot so that your romance has every chance of success!

1. Make sure you both are on the same page

You’ve had a series of dates and some great, in-depth discussions. You are both physically and intellectually attracted to each other. But one thing that some people ignore is the importance of voicing what their relationship expectations are.  

We might be fearful of scaring the other person off or seeming too needy. But there are ways to express what you want in a relationship (particularly with this person you’ve met) without seeming too demanding or inflexible.  

One of the important new relationship tips is to drop into the conversation the things that you’ve identified as “must haves” in a relationship by saying something like, “Once I know I’m really into a guy, I date just him. I’m exclusive. Are you?”

The goal of this conversation is to clarify that you are both looking for the same thing as you embark on this new chapter in your love life.  

It’s better to find out now, before you invest too much in this man, that no, he still wants to play the field.

2. Take it slow

The number one thing people can do to nip a potentially-terrific relationship in the bud is to become intimate too quickly.  

According to a Licensed Professional Counselor, Relationship Coach and Marriage Mentor Christiana Njoku,

It’s a new relationship, right? There is no need to rush things for now. Take it slowly and one at a time.

Blame our hormones, but it is straightforward to “go too far, too fast” when you’ve just spent a wonderful evening dining, drinking, and pouring out your hearts to each other. The stars in your eyes are blinding you to the fact that you really haven’t spent the necessary time building up an emotional connection.  

Remember:  sleeping together at an early stage of a relationship rarely contributes to building the intellectual and sentimental connections you want in a long-term, stable relationship.  

The better way to build a stable foundation upon which to construct a love story is to establish an emotional bond, a sentimental one, and a physical one. The process should be done slowly, carefully, and with continued communication between the partners.

If your partner is pressuring you to get intimate sooner than you are feeling comfortable with and does not listen to why you’d like to wait, this might be a red flag you wish to pay attention to. 

The experts say that one of the helpful new relationship tips is to use the first six dates to get to know one another and construct that all-important non-physical connection before you take things to the bedroom.

3. Give this plenty of space to grow

We all love the heady, first-week feeling of a blossoming relationship. And while it is so tempting and easy to exchange texts, photos, messages, and emoticons all day long with your new love interest, hold back.

Don’t flood his inbox. It may be an old-fashioned concept, but it is a proven one: love ignites better when there is some space and distance between the communications.  

Too much contact at the beginning will make the growing flame-like water on fire. It’s hard, but don’t be too present. (You can think about him in your mind all you want; no one will know about it!).  

And if he is constantly messaging you, be suspicious.  

He is probably an adrenaline junky, doing the same with other women. The healthiest way to learn how to start a relationship is to pace out the emails, texts, and messages, as well as the date, in such a way that there is room between each of these for your feelings to grow organically.  

4. Your first dates are not therapy sessions, so don’t reveal too much

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when beginning a new relationship is the tendency to unpack all of your emotional baggage right away. After all, you have an attentive partner right there, asking you lots of questions, eager to get to know you.

If you are fresh out of another relationship and perhaps dating a little too soon, it will be very easy to reveal all the details of that relationship. Your pain is right there on the surface, ready to spill over onto anyone that inquires about why you are now single. 

(Let us advise you right here not to date too quickly after a breakup and to make sure you are truly over your ex before you jump into another relationship, especially one that you want to go long-term with.)  

A mystery is enticing, so use those first six dates to talk about yourself in broad terms—your work, your passions, your favorite vacation spots—but save the former relationship stories or deep, personal traumatic experiences for way down the line when you are feeling safe and secure with your partner.  

Use those first six dates to have fun, share light moments, and show each other your happy sides. You can treat this as one of the important new relationship tips. 

5. Keep living your own best life

Another mistake that people make when connecting with a new person is to invest too much into the new relationship and put aside their own lives.  

According to Christiana Njoku,

Don’t put your life on hold because of your newly-found relationship; Keep being you and don’t let your world revolve only around the new relationship.

Your new friend was attracted to you because of the great life you were living before you met, so keep on living that life! Continue your training for that marathon, your French classes, your volunteer activity with the homeless, your girls-night-out.  

There is nothing that can kill a budding relationship faster than giving all of that up to concentrate solely on the new person.  

One of the important steps in a new relationship is to not neglect who you were before this relationship came on the scene—you are all the more attractive because of all these enriching things you do when apart.

Related Reading: 4 Things To Do To Make Your Love Life Better

5 tips for handling a new relationship

If you are looking for new relationship tips that can set your relationship on the right course, then you should consider being more aware of your feelings and considerate towards your partner. 

1. Have realistic expectations

One of the most important new relationship tips is to not have expectations that are too high or unrealistic, as this can place an undue burden on the relationship and your partner. 

Related Reading: 10 Realistic Expectations in a Relationship

2. Set clear boundaries 

Research has shown that boundaries in close relationships can improve a relationship’s condition and build trust between two people. It is one of the most helpful new relationship tips, as it allows you to get comfortable with each other and trust that your partner will respect your boundaries. 

3. Remember the little things

Isn’t it thrilling to hear that someone you have a crush on has noticed little things about you? It can validate emotions and lets you know that they truly care about you. 

One of the important new relationship tips is to notice little things about your partner as it shows that you care about them and also lets you know that helps you understand them better. 

Related Reading: 25 Things to Remember When You Love a Woman

4. Don’t compare 

Comparisons can harm a relationship in a significant way by making you insecure and under confident about your own relationship. 

Just as Christiana Njoku advises,

I know you will be tempted to compare your ex to your new partner, but it is not advisable.

Treat allowing yourself space to blossom without any burden of comparison to another couple or your former partner as one of the key new relationship tips. 

Related Reading: 10 Reasons You Should Never Compare Relationships or Your Partner

5. Practice active listening

Studies have shown that active listening is effective in relationships as it gives you a chance to truly listen to what your partner wants/needs. It also lets them know that their words have value for you, and hence, you are always listening when they are talking.

Watch this video to learn how to stop being defensive and learning to carefully listen to your partner:

To learn more about the tips that couples can follow when they are in a new relationship, click here. 

Some commonly asked questions

Here are the answers to some pressing questions that may arise once you’ve had a chance to rest and look at the tips for a new relationship mentioned above:

• What happens in a new relationship?

In a new relationship, usually, both people are excited and yet nervous. They try to find out things about each other and figure out whether they can make things work together. The partners try to figure out whether they want to invest more time in the relationship

• How important is space in a new relationship?

Space is truly important in any relationship, as it acts as a safeguard against either partner feeling smothered and overwhelmed. 

Giving your new partner some space can make them get used to having you in their life while also stepping away if that’s what they require mentally

• How often should you talk in a new relationship?

If you are looking at things to do in a new relationship, you should try talking with your potential partner. However, don’t take things for granted and keep talking to them a moderate amount as it is one of the best ways to understand each other. 

Final thoughts

Getting into a new relationship can seem overwhelming and stressful as it can raise questions about you and your relationship. But if you follow the new relationship tips mentioned here, you will be in a better position to assess the group.