How to Tell You’re Ready for a Relationship

It’s happening. Countless young professionals are coupling off, leaving their single friends with a dwindling dating pool of potentials and a reoccurring 5th, 7th or 9th wheel status. It isn’t so horrible for the young urban single, however, and married friends (secretly or not) relish in your dating stories and adventures. There may come a time when even the perpetual bachelor or bachelorette gets the “relationship bug” and suddenly wants to settle down. Here is how to tell if you’re ready

You’ve Tamed Your Inner Spirit
While you once romanticized the prospect of jumping on a plane on a whim, moving to a new city for the hell of it and taking a leave of absence from work to travel for months, those options don’t seem so enticing anymore. You notice couples at the airport and wish you were embarking on a romantic getaway instead of that last-minute girls or guys trip to Vegas. While on vacation, a part of you wishes you had someone to miss. 

It’s All Out of Your System
You’ve been there, done him or her. You’ve experienced a healthy amount of relationships, flings, dates and hot make-outs with strangers – some more shameful than others. Whereas the thought of hooking up with a hot stranger (and dishing all the details the next day) used to excite you, now it kind of grosses you out. You’d rather wake up with someone you care about than wake up and embark on a walk of shame. 

You Are Focused on You
Your early twenties may have been characterized by hazy nights, fast food and weekends spent sleeping. You have no regrets but have ventured past your “self-destruct” mode and have learned to moderate and live a balanced life. You get enough sleep, are on top of your workout and no longer get blackout drunk. Your mornings are too important. The only thing missing in your life is someone to share it with.

Your Future Plans Have Room for Someone Else
When you think in terms of your five-year plan, you optimistically picture sharing it with someone else. This is reflected in aspects of your life from the type of home and car you purchase to the things you are beginning to check off of your list of things you need to do before you get “locked down.”

You Get a Pet for Companionship
A pet demonstrates that you can take care of yourself as well as someone else and live a relatively responsible lifestyle. Many young professionals get a dog for the companionship to occupy their  otherwise lonely Sundays and have someone to come home to.