Should you start a relationship while social distancing? There's not necessarily a blanket right or wrong answer to that question. Every person and each relationship is different. What might be a deal breaker for you personally may not give another person pause. Someone else's green light may not be yours. But when you're considering starting a romantic relationship in the center of all things Coronavirus related, here are some things to consider.
1. How have your conversations been going so far?
Have conversations with this person been getting steadily deeper and much more interesting and have they plateaued or fallen off? Take a look at why your conversations happen to be going this way and consider if that could be remedied by actually being in a relationship. Again, there is no wrong or right answer here. If your conversations have been plateauing, that does not automatically mean you should not date. In fact, it could mean you have to make things official.
Also consider how good you're able to communicate with one another without mixed or crossed signals with honesty and clarity. If you've struggled with those things, consider why. Could it be because you read people better in person than over the telephone or email? Or is it because you're too different in this area?
Social distancing could possibly supply you and your match the space you need to focus on communicating prior to investing in a relationship (of course, you will need to work at this once in a while relationship, too).
2. Do you sense any red flags?
If you're seeing warning flags, don't start a relationship, social distancing or otherwise! Red flags are supposed to provide you with pause. Avoid these pitfalls and determine what a proper relationship need to look like. The more you understand what to look for, the better off you will be.
Social distancing plus internet dating gives you a unique opportunity to take a step back from the relationship and review it before totally investing yourself. So use that space! Social distancing can definitely be considered a gift, when we use it well. It's worth repeating, though: do not enter into any relationship where you sense red flags!
3. Are you living near or far from one another?
Long-distance dating can be very good! It can also be tricky. But so can dating somebody that lives near you. Think about what you want and need out of a relationship and see how distance factors into that. Be sure you and your match take presctiption the same page, though. Learn about the pitfalls and strengths of long-distance dating before you make a decision.
My now-husband and that i were long-distance until we were married. It worked for us but we also had to constantly work on it and resolve problems that naturally came up due to our distance. We learned to communicate clearly and effectively with one another and learned how to cherish time together. We still had issues when we get wed that people who live near to each other wouldn't have had, but we're going to need to work on something.
4. What are your state's current restrictions and guidelines?
This question is important in holding you back, your match, as well as your neighbors safe. If your state's guidelines continue to be under stay-at-home orders or safer in your own home orders, you should heed that. Those guidelines are there for a reason! There won't be much to complete together anyway.
If a state is going to lift restrictions soon, starting a relationship could possibly be just fine. This involves lots of personal comfortableness, so again, make sure you and your match take presctiption exactly the same page and do not be pushy.
This guide is updated regularly to mirror the alterations each state is making.
5. How would starting a relationship at this time benefit you? How might it be detrimental?
Make a good old pro/con list with this and become excruciatingly honest with yourself. We're all anxious and craving human interaction but that's a bad enough reason (by itself) to begin rapport.
Sometimes we have to watch for good things even when they're always good (I'm taking a look at you, NFP) out of respect and love to live in and every other. There is a real beauty and relief in understanding that we'll never have sufficient time with this loved ones on the planet regardless of how early we obtain into a relationship. That's precisely how life is. Starting rapport doesn't have to be now or never.
You can jump in, but be sure you know what you're jumping into.
After considering each of these questions, you should have a better idea of whether a relationship in general along with a relationship with this specific person will be a wise decision right now.
As always, be sure to follow your gut instinct. Learning to trust yourself now will be important in any future relationship and vocation.