Relationships can be messy,expecially in the beginning.After all, commmitting to take care of another person can be difficult if you jump into a relationship too quickly or without taking a second to reflect on what you want from your campus cutie.

So what should you think about before change your Facebook status to "in a relationship"? Here are five things to consider.

1. Get involved for the right reasons.
One of the simplest questions to ask yourself is why you want a relationship in the first place.is it because you really like this person, or are you trying to distract yourself from other problems?

2. Know how long you can see yourself with this person.
We re not saying you have to be ready to marry this guy, but are you looking for just a semester fling, or do you want something serious and longterm?obviously, how long you see yourself being with a person determines how much time and energy you re going to want to put into the relationship, so its important to figure out.

3. Make sure you know what your potential significant other wants,too.
As essential as it is to know where you stand,its just as crucial to make sure you ve been talking with your beau and know what he is looking for,too. A break down of communication early on in a relationship is dangerous, so chat with your guy about the state of your relationship often.

4. Know if you have enough time for a relationship.
To state the abvious, relationships take a lot of time and energy, so if you dont think you can give a serious time commitment to your campus cutie, you may want to reconsider whether or not you date him or her.
After all, dating isnt just about going on actual dates (which do take up quite a bit of time as is). There's all of the texting and calling you will be doing, the events you will be going to together, and just the general amount of time it takes to get to know another human being.

5. Know what sacrifices you re willing to make.
Building on wheather or not you have enough time for a relationship, how much time for other things are you willing to give up for your significant other? After all, just because you have the time doesnt mean you want to be using it. Are you okay with spending 30minutes every night talking to him on skype if its long distance or having a date night with him every weekend? After all, skyping takes away time from homework (or binge watching Netflix), and date nights mean less time with friends. How are you going to fit in everything?

Overall, getting into a new relationship can be scary, exciting and difficult all at the same time. By taking a step back and asking yourself some crucial questions, you can avoid some heartbreak and have a much healthier relationship from the start.
You are blessed.