If you're dating someone new, you might be interested to see how your relationship should progress. You might be worrying things are moving too fast or too slow and having a relationship timeline in mind could help you know whether your relationship is moving along nicely.
Why it is Important For Relationships to Evolve
Every relationship will go through different stages as the two partners get to know each other better and this is very important when this turns into more than just a fling. When two people meet and start spending more time with one another, it is inevitable that they will be influenced by one another. When it comes to couples, this interaction helps build new habits and brings the two people closer together.
A relationship needs to evolve just like the people in it do. From dating to a few months into the relationship, the two partners won't be exactly the same as they were the day they met. As time passes on, people tend to get more comfortable with one another and it is important for the longevity of the relationship for both parties to be able to adapt.
The more the relationship can evolve, the more trust and love will be built between the partners. The bond between them evolves along with the stages of the relationship timeline and helps show them both how to function in different situations and support their partner when necessary.
A relationship that is not able to evolve for the better does not have a future. People cannot stay the same forever and it can be exhausting being with a partner who doesn't want to put in the effort to better themselves.
Not Every Relationship Will Follow The Same Timeline
Before we move on to the actual relationship timeline most partners will experience, it is important to note that not every relationship will follow the same timeline. Each story has a different beginning and ending and while the average relationship might experience a similar pattern, there are many times when creating your own timeline is important.
Some might get married sooner than others and some couples might choose not to lead their relationship towards marriage. Each couple should follow their own pace in a long term relationship and set their own rules. This is important when it comes to making the next big step along the timeline.
Whether you went on more or less dates than most people, if you were friends for years before you fell in love, all that matters is how much effort you both put into the relationship. Not every couple's honeymoon phase will last as long as others' and many couples will meet through a dating app. Just because your story is different or unconventional, doesn't mean your love isn't real or that it won't last.
The relationship timeline is an idea created to help people know when it is time to make another step in their relationship. This can help you decide whether you want to move in together or do anything that requires a lot of thinking in advance. Apart from that, you should do things at your own pace and trust your gut feeling when it comes to your partner and the love between the two of you.
Stages of a Relationship Timeline
Now that you have an idea on what a relationship timeline might consist of, you will probably want to see a more structured plan of how a relationship will proceed through the years. A typical relationship timeline consists of certain stages that everyone will go through, from dating exclusively to deciding to spend your lives together.
Just remember that the relationship stages timeline is just a guide to help you see where your relationship is at the moment and it doesn't necessarily show you whether your relationship is a healthy or happy one. This is up to you to decide.
That being said, here is a common relationship milestones timeline that many relationships tend to follow.
"We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it." - John Lennon
Stage 1: The Initial Attraction
The stage of the initial attraction is when the other person has just caught your eye and you start to think that maybe your current relationship with this person could evolve to something more. They might have been a close friend, a coworker or someone you just met through a friend or on a dating app.
Regardless of the circumstance, you saw something in them that caught your attention and you started seeing them romantically. This is where you both will flirt with one another a lot and you will be confused on whether they actually see you in the same way. You still might not know a lot about this person but you want to learn everything about them. This leads to the very next step.
Stage 2: Going on a First Date
After the initial attraction between you, you probably decide to go on that very first date. Now this is something that can either go very well and lead to a second date and then to more, or it can show you that this is probably not going to go anywhere.
A first date with a new partner can be very nerve-wracking and you might be looking at how to prepare for topics to discuss and how you can be your best self in order to impress them. Just because a first date was a little awkward, doesn't mean that the relationship won't have a future though.
Dating can be stressful at first, but it can also be very fun and carefree, especially if you find that you have so many things to talk about with the other person. Your potential love interest can teach you so many new things and you might just know that this is the right person for you at the end of that first date.