There is no perfect time for a man to commit. That's because timing varies depending on the situation, time period in life, and person. You can assess it yourself if the timing is right for you. Therefore, how long you will wait depends on your goal.
Psychologists say you should wait at least two months until you ask the other person to be exclusive with you. You might decide to commit to each other sooner than that, but generally speaking, eight weeks is a good timeline. Keep in mind that this depends on how often you talk to your crush.
Waiting Can Be Emotionally Draining
Waiting for someone who doesn't want a relationship at all could set you up for heartbreak in the future. When you're feeling stuck in the middle, take time to consider whether this person is actually worth waiting for—or if you're just standing by to see the outcome.
Some dating experts say that you should have the conversation no longer than two or three months into the relationship. A lot of people go by their gut instinct after spending time with the other person. You also want to remember that the DTR convo isn't all about you — it's also about how the other person feels.
That said, an average relationship can be considered serious when you have been dating for 3 months. It takes 3 months for both you and your partner to understand what your core values are and whether you are compatible enough to go long-term with this relationship.
Basically, after a break-up, the three-month rule is a rule that says you and your ex are both given 3 months before entering the dating scene again. Just waiting it out, and mourning that your relationship ended. Just go on with your individual separate lives and see what happens.
Instead, I'm talking about the trend known as the three-month itch, which occurs when a couple have been dating for about three months and suddenly one decides that they either want to exit the relationship, or morph things from casual to commitment.
[but] I would say it's socially acceptable to talk about exclusivity after a couple of months," she told Insider. "You might do it before, maybe because the other person is totally on the same page, but I think give it a couple of months."
If you have been dating each other for two months, it's likely that you have at least spoken about what you're looking for in terms of if you are seeking a long-term relationship or if you are looking to date casually and have fun. It can be essential to initiate the conversation so that you're both on the same page.
According to a 2015 dating survey conducted by Time Out of 11,000 people worldwide, people decide to go exclusive and stop seeing other people after six dates — which, for many, falls in line with the one- to two-month mark. They officially declare themselves a couple after nine dates, on average.
Not only will you miss out on many opportunities of meeting other potential partners, you'll also risk hurting yourself in the end. That's why, if your love for them (and their love for you) isn't THAT strong in the first place, I suggest that you don't wait for them.
He makes you a priority, wants to spend time with you
If your partner really loves you and feels ready to commit, he will make you his top priority. He will want to be around you and spend as much time as he can with you. He will take initiative and follow through with plans.
In fact, I strongly advise NOT waiting for him (like waiting around, being his girlfriend, committing to him in your heart, being in an exclusive relationship with him… until he's ready for a relationship with you). But you don't have to “leave him” or end your connection or friendship to him if you don't want to.
“A man will commit when he feels a deep connection with a woman that he doesn't feel with anyone else; when he finds a lover who is also his best friend that makes him feel special and unique,” Tripp says.
Unfortunately, with all matters of the heart, including romantic relationships, there isn't a specific number of dates that equate to exclusivity. Instead, Singh suggests thinking in terms of months rather than dates. By six months — or preferably before — you should know if you're in a committed relationship.
Physical attraction, sexual compatibility, empathy, and emotional connection are key to making a man fall in love with a woman.
After about seven months together, couples have a general idea of how each other work and may have already said, "I love you." Think about it this way: Someone who has only dated around and hasn't been in a committed relationship before may absolutely consider seven months to be a long-term relationship.
According to Katie Ziskind, a holistic licensed marriage and family therapist in Niantic, Connecticut, it can take between 2 weeks and 4 months to love someone. But it may take longer before a person actually considers telling their partner they love them.
Case in point: An 2018 survey of 1,000 British men and women found that while more than half of them take over three months to say, "I love you," 32% of women and 29% of men say it in one to three months—and 10% of women and 14% of men say it in just one to four weeks.
Dating requires little commitment. You may agree to specific aspects of a date, such as a date, time, and place, but that's about it. A meaningful relationship requires commitment from both partners. Relationships with commitment include looking to the future and exploring where things may take you.
For some he's trying to figure out if he's even that interested. For others, he's trying to figure out if he wants to be exclusive. For others, he's saying that he likes/loves you, but he's contradicting that with his actions and stalling on committing.
A man who is very serious about you will be transparent and honest about every aspect of his life. Be it his everyday activity or things about his past – he will prefer to keep everything out in the open instead of making you wonder about his actions. He will also be clear about his feelings for you.
Inexplicably at some time between the 5th and the 8th month, the landscape shifts and as a Manager you suddenly have a new challenge. I like to call it the '6 month itch' (there is probably a better name for it!) Your employee starts talking with real authority about their job. They start to make suggestions.
Researchers have pinpointed the seven-month mark as the flashpoint where extramarital affairs begin, giving rise to the seven-month itch phenomenon. “Traditionally, seven years into a relationship used to be make-or-break,” says Savannah Ellis, founder and coach at the Infidelity Recovery Institute.
Although there's plenty of research out there that tends to show the three-year itch really does exist, it's by no means inevitable. Every relationship isn't destined for a reckoning on its three-year anniversary, so don't expect it to happen to you.