There are a lot of tips floating around the internet that will “help” you maintain a happy and healthy relationship. Sometimes these tips work and sometimes (a lot of times) they sound good on paper, but to actually try it? Eh, maybe not so much.
People think that the advice that sounds like something your grandparents would do is the advice you should listen to. Why? They are still together aren’t they—or at the very least their marriage lasted a long time right?
Here are five sound bits of dating advice that can stand the test of time.
- Keep The Past in The Past
This is a tip that people do offer modern singles, but we tend to ignore this tip the most, for some odd reason. There is a reason why people say you should keep the past in the past and that is because no one wants to know about the people you were with before them. Sure, we all have a past and have had previous partners, but there is something a little awkward when you actually talk about them. Unless it is absolutely important to talk about the ex (you have a child together, you’re financially bound to one another, or some other serious reasons like that), you should refrain from talking about the past. At least in the beginning stages of the relationship.
- Don’t Put Them on a Pedestal
You might want to treat the person you’re dating like they are the most important person you’ve ever met, but the truth is once you start doing this, it could go to their head and it could be downhill from there. When people feel like you worship them, they may start to take advantage of you, and that is never any good. You want to remind yourself from time to time that this person is just a regular person like you, and all though you may think the world of them, they aren’t that special.
- Don’t Lead Them On
You should always be honest with the people that you are dating. If you are looking for a serious relationship, you want to let them know this. If you are looking for something more casual, let them know this as well. The biggest no-no is to lead them on. It’s never any fun when you start to fall for someone and you learn that they aren’t on the same page as you are.
- Respect the Relationship Stages
There are different stages of a relationship and you should always be mindful of this when you’re dating. What does this mean? If you are in the first few dates, you should act accordingly—don’t assume that on the fifth date it’s going to turn into a long courtship. Sometimes it is just a brief romance and sometimes it does turn into something more. Just go with the flow and feel things out. There’s no need to rush.
- Stay Away from The Ex
Remember how you should leave the past in the past? This also means that you shouldn’t reach out to your ex for a random tryst. Yes, they are familiar and yes they are comfortable, but they are an ex for a reason—leave them as such.