10 Things Young People Need to Know About Dating

Life can be challenging when you're a young person, especially when it comes to dating.

Most young people lack the experience that comes with age, but they also don't have enough money to pursue the lifestyle they want, and many don't even have the physical ability or confidence to ask someone out yet.

To help you overcome these barriers, here are 10 things young people need to know about dating.

1) Love is a risk

While love might be a risk, it is also worth it.

At any age, dating offers us an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and our wants and needs in relationships.

As we go through life, we connect with other people who show us who we are and what makes us happy; some of these relationships will last a lifetime.

Whether you are young or old, remember that when it comes to your love life, there is no right time for anything – it's all about going with your gut feeling and trusting yourself along the way.

Just do it when you like someone and want to take things further! There is never going to be a better time than right now . . . trust me on that one!

2) Communication is key

Keeping a good line of communication open is vital for a successful relationship.

When you're in a long-term, serious relationship, remember that it's essential to find ways to talk about complex topics honestly.

If there are things that come up in your conversations or interactions with your partner that you don't feel comfortable talking about, then consider therapy as a possible solution.

The more open and honest you can be with each other, without being hurtful or making things awkward between you two, the better off your relationship will be.

Early on, talking through minor issues can help smooth out more significant problems later on.

3) Don't make assumptions

In many ways, dating is easier than it's ever been.

But that can be a bad thing. Many young people make assumptions about what should happen in a date situation—and then get upset or disappointed when their expectations don't match reality.

To avoid making assumptions and thus being blindsided by disappointment, be sure you're on the same page as your partner.

Start with asking questions:

• What is tonight?
• Are we on a date?
• Am I just coming over to watch TV?
• If so, are we watching Netflix or Hulu?

4) Be yourself

Honesty is always a good policy, especially when it comes to dating.

One of the most common mistakes young people make is lying about who they are and what they do to be more appealing.

It's easy to start playing a character online or during a first date, but trust us, your date will find out who you are eventually—, and there's no way you can hide from social media—so save yourself some time and aggravation by telling them who you are from day one.

This may scare away people who aren't suitable for you anyway.

5) Respect your boundaries

Just as you shouldn't expect someone else to take care of your sexual health, you shouldn't expect anyone else to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.

You should also be aware of other people's boundaries.

If someone tells you they aren't comfortable with something, respect their decision and stop doing it—no questions asked.

Make sure they know your boundaries, and don't hesitate to tell them if they cross them; respect is a two-way street.

6) Have fun together, not apart

Dating can be a tough experience, but it can also be excellent.

If you want your date with that special someone to lead somewhere, it's important not only to get to know them better (and vice versa) but also to have a good time and make sure they do.

A great way of doing that is by making sure that you and your partner have plenty of fun throughout the whole evening—not just in isolation from each other.

Whether you like rock climbing or dancing or comedy shows, make plans for both of you—but plan them together.

You'll find out more about what makes your date tick while having even more fun together.

And if at any point in time one or both of you wants things on their own.

7) There is no this guy/girl is perfect for me

There is no perfect person out there.

If you're actively seeking the one, you will be disappointed.

On that note, if you ever find a person who seems too good to be true...they probably are.

Don't expect perfection or an ideal situation, and work with what is given.

We all have to learn how to compromise and do our best given our problems instead of dreaming about a fantasy situation we will never have.

8) Don't make it hard on yourself

Don't be too picky if you're looking for a serious relationship.

If you find someone you like but feel isn't your perfect match, don't dismiss them because of one or two characteristics that aren't ideal.

Be open and give it a shot—it might just work out. After all, there is such a thing as being perfect for each other.

Two people who aren't entirely compatible may have an opportunity to grow together and build something extraordinary over time.

Good chemistry can come in many forms.

To sum up: Keep an open mind when dating; if you let it take its course, you may be surprised at how things turn out!

9) You are NOT too old – you are never too old!

Yes, there are age differences in relationships.

But if you're both happy about it and feel like it's working out, that shouldn't be a problem! Age is just a number!

There shouldn't be an issue if you're both on track with your life goals and not someone's parent or grandparent.

So don't worry about how old anyone is...as long as neither of you has gray hair yet. You're never too young – but you're also old: People can indeed have different maturity levels.

That's why dating within your age group might work better for some people than others.

But again, if you're both happy about it and feel like it's working out, that shouldn't be a problem!

You should never let anyone else decide who you should date: You know yourself best, so trust yourself when deciding who to date.

10) It will be worth it when you find the right person – but in the meantime, enjoy your journey of self-discovery

Though marriage is often considered an important milestone, people shouldn't rush into anything just because they feel like they should or that it's expected of them.

The truth is that most people who go on a date don't end up marrying that person – and that doesn't mean there isn't someone out there for you or that your marriage won't be a happy one.

You have to follow your heart while also being open-minded, taking things slowly, and trying not to let expectations cloud your decisions.

So much of finding true love is about timing – and when it comes down to it, nobody knows what's best for you better than you do.