Who wants to date forever? Answer: virtually no-one. Dating can and should be fun. And its an essential part of finding your special someone, and fine tuning what you're really looking for in someone. But the central purpose of dating is to meet that one person you truly connect with. If you're dating with the sole purpose of going on more and more dates, you'll find dating will become less fun, and much less effective. But how do you know when you've met 'the one', and can stop dating and focus on them alone? Here are the signs:

1. Fascination street: do you find someone so intriguing that you're already making a list of things to talk about when you see them next? If so, prioritize them above others.
2. Off your chest: if you're excited to tell someone about your day/week/inner thoughts and fears, its a sign that they're not 'just another date'.
3. Missing person: do you find yourself thinking about someone even when you're on a date with someone else? Note to self - stop dating and call that person. Fast.
4. Blandness: if you're finding that all the people you're meeting seem the same, no matter how great they appear on the outside, it's a sign that you're looking for a deeper connection beyond just looks and initial chemistry.
5. Talk for hours: the desire and ability to have long, interesting conversations with someone about a wide variety of topics, even after seeing each other a number of times, is a great sign. Whereas initial physical chemistry becomes less important as time goes on, your ability to connect with someone at a deeper level becomes more important.
6. Make it stop: if you're having to fight the urge to cancel dates last minute because you can't bear the thought of another first date, then stop dating. If there's someone you've connected with, great. If not, you should still take a break.
7. When in doubt: if after all of the above, you're still not sure if someone is 'the one', it's worthwhile putting a temporary pause on dating new people and see that one person a few more times. Consider it a wise investment in your future happiness.