Is it time for him to be your boyfriend?

You meet someone and like them, go on a more dates and things go well. After a while, you might start to think that it's time to officially move to the 'boyfriend and girlfriend' stage.

Compared to some relationship events – think marriage or starting to live in the same house – this can be a somewhat vague transition. Indeed, much of the time, couples might not even make a formal decision to become 'partners' in this way – rather, it will just happen!

But there are some signs to look out for that could suggest that a relationship is going towards – or perhaps has even already reached – the stage where you can call the person you've been meeting up with all this time your 'other half'.

Everyone will be different so nothing here is definitive by any means. And take particular notice of the especially important final point!

Meetings don't have to be formally arranged

Rather than having to set up formal dates in advance, it could be that now things have become a lot more informal, and it's not out of place for one of you to just suggest that you just do something on the spur of the moment.

You're always in touch

If someone is going to be a partner, chances are you've been spending a lot of time texting. Since you like each other so much, you want to check how the other one is doing!

Home-time

Spending a lot more time at each others' homes – rather than out and about – is a sure sign things are becoming increasingly intimate. We're not just talking about sex! Just being comfortable enough to watch a film together in the evening in casual clothes may well show you've become a lot closer.

You're not on the look-out

Have you stopped checking your dating site profile? Do messages from other men now get ignored? If you're putting all your focus on one person, it could certainly be one of the signs that things are going in a very positive direction.

You're imagining the future

This relationship isn't something to just pass the time – you're now finding yourself thinking about what it might be like to live with this person, or see them on a daily basis. They're part of your inner consciousness.

They're hanging out with your friends

Rather than simply being someone you meet for dates, you may well have done activities involving your potential other half and other people you know now, moving further towards having them being a big part of your life.

Showing off a potential partner to our friends is a big move – and can show you have confidence in where the relationship is heading.

Talk has become more personal

Are you finding yourself being more open with this person? Do they know hidden things about you? Or have you been talking about things that are very personal to you, like childhood experiences? Both are good signs that emotional intimacy is building.

You feel it

At the end of the day, we all know wanting to be in a relationship with someone is something that comes from the heart. It's an instinct that doesn't come down to a set of boxes to be ticked. If you feel like someone could be your boyfriend or girlfriend, and keep seeing them, it could well be that the relationship develops that way.