Dating vs relationship – now, that’s a tough one!
There is a very thin line between these two stages of a love cycle, and most often, we forget about the existing boundary. But the tr
uth is, this is one line that always stays. When you first go out with someone, that’s your first date – it necessarily doesn’t mean that the two of you are dating.
Yes, when you step out frequently on dates and get to know each other on a personal level, then that’s definitely dating. But just because the two of you are dating doesn’t mean you guys are in a relationship.
In fact, the two of you might not even get there – things can very well fizzle out before you both settle into a relationship.
Sometimes, people date for a long time without using the relationship tag since the whole idea is how relationships can make things more serious than you guys are ready!
As a result, it is easy to understand that just dating someone is way more different than being in a relationship with someone! And this is where things get interesting – because, in most cases, we don’t think much about the lines separating the two relationship bases.
So, here we are all set to discuss the primary differences between dating someone and being in a relationship with them. Stay tuned!
Dating Vs Relationship: 5 Major Differences
The Dating Dairy presents the dating vs relationship conversation!
But instead of fighting for or against the two concepts, we are just going to point out the major differences between dating and relationships. After all, love is free, and debating about its many aspects doesn’t really make sense.
So, without wasting time, here we go!
1. Mutuality:
One major difference between dating someone and being in a relationship with them is being on the same page. If you are confused about where you are in the ‘relationship,’ while your partner appears to be secure, it indicates that you guys are not on the same page.
Moreover, relationships primarily depend on trust and mutual agreement. But dating is not really the same thing.
For instance, while you might be dating someone casually, they might be dating you exclusively. As a result, there is no mutual agreement about what works for the two of you at this stage – it’s too early to set any boundaries as well!
Additionally, the idea of exclusivity also varies from person to person. While many prefer dating exclusively, others don’t prefer being committed to a single person in the beginning.
2. Commitment:
Of course, commitment is a given!
Being committed is the key to any relationship – that is why it is a relationship in the first place. Moreover, people commit to each other with the hope of staying together and building something substantial for their future together. Dating, on the other hand, lacks commitment of any kind.
To be honest, the only commitment that anyone has while they are dating is to just get a sundae together once dinner is over.
3. Communication:
Communication is yet another thing that varies significantly in dating and relationships. So, when you are in a committed relationship with someone, it is normal to contact your partner whenever you want. In fact, if you want to call your partner for every little thing, you can!
From giving them details of your past life to asking them to stop snoring when they are sleeping, you can communicate about anything and everything when you are in a relationship.
Dating, on the other hand, is very different. When you are just dating someone, communication can be basic, limited, and not very intrinsic. In such a case, ‘couples’ typically talk about where to go on your next date or casual banter.
4. Expectations:
Of course, expectations typically vary when you are dating someone or even when you are in a relationship. In such cases, you end up expecting less from the person. It is normal for one partner to be relatively more into the dynamic than the other partner. But since both of you are casual about the whole situation, none of you have any expectations for the future.
And why would you expect anything from someone you have just started going out with? The intimacy levels between the two of you haven’t reached that stage where both of you can expect much from each other.
However, when two people work on a relationship – it’s completely built on expectations. After all, we do expect even the most redundant things from our partners – from patience and intimacy to a bright future, expectations are always on autopilot.
5. Priorities:
Of course, both dating and being in a relationship are vital and meaningful for all involved parties. But there’s no way you can deny that the priorities are different in both cases. In fact, it is safe to say that priorities play a relatively more crucial role in relationships than in dating.
So, when you are dating someone, you are not necessarily very serious about them. As a result, you end up prioritizing them along with other things such as activities, friends, work, and more.
But when you are in a relationship, you will see that your dynamic with others is changing because your top priority becomes your partner. The other aspects, like work, friends, and family, all come after your partner.
And That’s A Wrap!
And that’s a wrap on the dating vs relationship conversation!
These are the five major differences between dating someone and being in a relationship with them. Of course, apart from these differences, there are small distinctive features between the two. Those differences are more nuanced and more specific. Moreover, both are not just exciting but necessary stages of the love cycle. And you never know. It is possible that the person you are dating exclusively at the moment can be the same person you are in a relationship with!
You May Also Like..
