4 SIGNS YOU’RE IN AN ‘ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP’
So, we’ve been getting a lot of new information about Covid restrictions in the UK. We’re adjusting to essentially having a 10pm curfew, since all the pubs and restaurants will close then (isn’t 10pm the magical date hour when you decide if you want to prolong your evening? What do we do now?!) but it has also introduced to a new phrase. ‘Established relationship’. What is it? How do you get into one?! This is the outline the government has given to help people know what’s allowed when it comes to sex. Has it been helpful and clear? Well… no. Mainly, there’s a lot of discussion about what it even means and how it’ll effect people who aren’t seeing anyone, but want to meet people. Or people who want something more casual. Well, we’ve come up with some tips. Here are 4 signs you’re in an established relationship…
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They’re not your ex
This should go without saying, but we’ll say it again anyway. Texting your ex during the pandemic is not an established relationship, it’s likely a terrible idea. Yes, cuffing season is starting soon and people are panicking more than ever about the idea of a second lockdown and having to spend the winter months isolated. However, that doesn’t mean you should backslide.
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If you’ve had the ‘what are we?’ talk and decided
you’re exclusive, then I guess your relationship is
established… by government standards.
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You’ve had ‘the talk’ and are exclusive
To some, they feel like ‘established relationship’ means exclusive and this way of thinking makes a lot of sense. Right now, the main priority is reducing the amount of contact people are having by reducing the amount of people they interact with. Of course, there are other ways to meet people safely during this time, like CLiKD. It does stands to reason that Matt Hancock was probably trying to suggest that you just get with the one person you’ve been with for a while. So, yes. If you’ve had the ‘what are we?’ talk and decided you’re exclusive, then I guess your relationship is established… by government standards.
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If you actually call them your partner
We all know of the great (she said sarcastically) phenomenon that is situationships. Where you’re kind of together, but you’re not really sure because it hasn’t been discussed or they dodge the label altogether. They’re usually happy to go through the motions of being in relationship, but are reluctant to call it that or say you’re exclusive. Well, if you’re with someone who isn’t afraid to say that you’re their partner, it’s safe to say it’s an established relationship.
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If you have stuff at their place, it’s likely going
somewhere serious. After all, you don’t let just
anyone have a slightly broken drawer at
your place, right?
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If you have things at each other’s places
No, we don’t just mean a stray earring from a one-night stand from the beginning of the year (always sad to lose the one earring, sigh.) As in you’re no longer carrying your entire life in an overnight bag to stay at their place each time. You have your own toothbrush and other toiletries at their place, plus clean underwear etc. If you have stuff at their place, it’s likely going somewhere serious. After all, you don’t let just anyone have a slightly broken drawer at your place, right?
So, there you have it! 4 signs you’re in an established relationship… Look, we know times are hard right now. It’s made even tougher when it feels like the government are penalizing single people for, well, being single. Truthfully, none of us really knows for sure what Matt Hancock was trying to say (a running theme throughout this pandemic) so, we’re all taking some educated guesses here. All we can say is stay safe, wear a mask and keep washing those hands!
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