Are you ready for a relationship? If not what's holding you back?

[zeitgeist057]

A few factors, but probably the most predominate is time.

There are 24 hours in a day, and 168 hours in a week. I work a full time job (40+) and am in a full time nursing program (30+) which includes a clinical rotation at the local hospital each week (12). Add in my commuting and the time I spend volunteering at the wildlife rescue center, It comes to about 100 hours/week. Take the remaining 68 hours and divide by the 7 days in the week, it comes to just under 10 hours/day for sleeping, eating, hygiene, dressing, and all that other essential basic stuff. Not to mention getting the mail, fueling up my vehicles, grocery shopping, and other side work.It's no joke. I usually end up sacrificing sleep, and average about 6 hours a day. I'm really working on getting to 8.

So yeah, I'd like a girlfriend. But she'd have to be pretty independent, and okay with our relationship being on a very limited in person interaction as I am not free 95% of the time. We could text or have phone calls, but I would even be wary of having her sleep over as I need to be able to fall asleep and wake up in a very limited window. Second part of this is I don't have a lot of time to be out wandering around, meeting up with people, having a social life, etc, which is usually how I meet women I want to date. Nor do I have time to arrange and go on dates. Girl would have to be satisfied with going grocery shopping lol.

Once I'm done with nursing school, things will change a bit, but I will still need a special woman who fits my lifestyle as I will quit my current job and work for the hospital full time for a year while finishing my higher degree. In 3 years, I'll start travel nursing, which is when I will finally start to have more free time, but it will be on a more "feast and famine" schedule, with vacations between gigs.

Yearly travel nursing schedule (total 52 weeks in a year):
13 weeks traveling, 1-2 weeks vacation
13 weeks traveling, 1-2 weeks vacation
13 weeks traveling, ~2.5 months (10 weeks) vacation.

I realize finding a woman who will be accommodating to this schedule may be difficult. I might end up dating another traveling nurse? Who knows, and I'm not really worried about it. I have found in life, love comes along when it comes, there's no point in trying to chase it down.

[AncientWisdom]

I never met that women. I didn’t marry , because of all the things I saw happening to my male friends and relatives. I don’t think marriage is a good deal for men anymore. I think men should stop getting married until the biased laws that award a woman your life are changed where it’s fair. The government makes 50 billion a year on divorce which females initiate for the most part. Better not let one move in either or she can get you with the common law bullshit.
I just date and have female friends. I don’t let them live with me , and I tell them up front I won’t marry. I get a lot of action too , because there are many women who feel the same way but like sex and male companionship.
I actually like women , and love talking to them and dating , unfortunately I don’t trust them , because I’m not stupid. I also have a lot to lose I’m not willing give it to a woman. I’d rather my sons have my estate when I die.
I anticipate many more men thinking like me. They already are in fact. Marriage is way down. Only 49% of what it was in past decades.
Hence the cry “where are all the good men?” They are waking up and not signing up for female duplicity.

[spuitkaas]

Ready for a relationship and looking for something. The lack of decent men on dating apps and lockdown is holding me back. I'm not meeting people in person because of corona measures here so I'm dependent on the dating apps, but it seems like every guy around my age either just got out of a long relationship and is not fully ready for something serious but finds it hard to be alone, wants to settle down and have kids (not ready for that) or is not compatible with me for a variety of reasons (can't communicate, too insecure/feels inferior, no click, not meeting my standards etc)
It's like finding a needle in a haystack tbh. Maybe if corona measures are more lifted, it might get better, but tbh being single in these times is extra hard. Normally I'm very fine being single, but with many things closed, shitty weather and everyone being busy it's just hard.

[Cynicaldreamer]

No, and I'm not in any rush to date either. I have someone far more important to prioritize in my life: ME.

I guess you could say I'm taking care of myself and my own happiness until further notice. So technically I'm dating myself! 😊

[OlderAndWiser]

I'm not ready yet, and I think I need to wait a few years.

[ohshee]

I I am so ready I'm over it LOL I don't know what I am I have all these burning passion inside of me that I just want to share with somebody so bad and at the same time I'm happy and I'm content right now but I just want to hold somebody I want to kiss somebody's neck very very slow and deep I want to slide my hands down their back in slow motion I want to feel everything about them inside of me and me inside of them I miss that deep passion becomes which is to look into somebody's eyes are the touch with their hand or finger with their hand over their finger walking up to them and just barely touching his head Hi how are you I miss all of that and I know that I'm ready for it but I I haven't met that person yet or if I have I haven't pursued it I guess it will happen when I make it happen I guess

[Anonymous]

Yes and no. I'd like a relationship, but I also value time to myself. Working a full-time job where I have to interact with people, in the little bit of time I get to myself, I don't really want to see or speak to anyone. I need that time to myself to decompress. So that leaves no room for a relationship. If I won the lottery or something and didn't have to work anymore, then sure, I'd really try to get into a relationship. Until then, it's not worth giving up the tiny bit of freedom I have left.

[snowboarder720]

A relationship in what way? Because F**k boys are technically in relationships too.
Is everyone ready for a REAL relationship where everyone cares about each other so much and value each other higher than any other human being on this earth? Is the real question.

[Seangreen]

I keep saying I'm not but at the same time I'm lying to myself because I think it is time. I don't want a one night stand I don't want a friends-with-benefits I'd like to settle down soon not that it has to be marriage or anything but I've definitely am overdue from just settling down

[Anonymous]

I'm not really ready for a relationship.
I'm still searching for a job and need to get a hold of myself, improve in some places and such.

I'm still unsure if I'm emotionally ready for a new relationship. Yes sometimes I miss someone to kiss and hug and stuff.

[iconic__lay]

I want to fully love myself before I get into a relationship, so I’m not fully dependent on that person. Also, I’m going to start college soon and I don’t want a relationship anytime soon bc my mom always told me to make sure I’m single then (to explore options I guess lol) I also think a relationship will be too distracting for what I want to accomplish.

[Heartache0405]

Its not a question of whether I'm ready or not. It's just not gonna happen. I prefer being happy as opposed to suffocated, stressed, worried constantly, anxious, heartbroken, jealous, angry, sad/depressed, disgusted, and enraged.

[ChrisMaster69]

Tbh there are a lot of people on GaG that should not be allowed out of their mums basement never mind relationships

[AdithyaR]

I have crippling insecurities and self worth issues which prevent me from mingling with people cause I'm unable to accept that I could be attractive to someone.

[Anonymous]

I thought I was ready but now I’m unsure especially since the guy that I’m dating seems inconsistent and isn’t fully over his ex even though he said he loves me… 😔

[DaveJord]

Nothing puts me off more then going out with someone and finding out they are not ready to be dating.

[dwiller943]

Tbh, I doubt there is anyone on this entire planet that I am meant for
that is also meant for me.

[Buntyp]

I'm busy with the one going on with myself, right now.

[Phoenix-gb]

I'm ready for a relationship, just can't find anyone who wants to have one with me.

[Redstang88]

Not at the moment. Trying to figure a lot of things out right now and honestly still hung up on the last girl I dated

[Lucy68]

I am and I feel like I am, I'm just afraid of being hurt mentally, emotionally, physically, verbally, and sexually again. I think me being afraid of being abused again is holding me back. That's the only thing to be honest.

[Nigjt]

There is only one thing for me that will make me well maybe two a Woman who isn't submissive an the other being the second one is not being willing to try new thing's.
God Bless

[Ailaw22]

So far it happened twice only that I really liked someone but then suddenly things changes suddenly so I'm afraid to get hurt again which is holding me back

[laconique]

I would prefer to stay single, being in a relationship is a lot of responsibility and comes with a lot of drama depending on the person you are hanging out with.