4 Ways for millennials To Date While Social Distancing
If you’re a single millennial like me, this social distancing phenomenon could be quite more beneficial and creative than you think, when it comes to dating. I know you’re probably itching to be with the person you just met off a dating app, or someone who slid in your DMs who sparked you’re interest, but you can actually start dating now, at a distance.
Since this pandemic began, and we were advised to stay home, studies have shown that dating Apps like Tinder and Bumble have seen an increase in traffic. This means that more people are digitally finding a partner, therefore, they can digitally date (and late night caking is at an all time high). I honestly think this is better for the single world anyways. Without being able to physically date, you are able to get to know someone on a deeper level. You are more interested in who they are as a person, rather than what they look like, and how they feel. Speaking of feel, it takes away the opportunity to have unplanned sex which can really complicate things.
Side note: the other day I formed an opinion and you can let me know in the comments what you think. I said “all toxic relationships involve sex” I am a living witness of this! Without sex, especially at an early stage, new relationships have a less chance of becoming toxic (don’t worry, there will be an entire blog on this soon). With that being said, dating at a distance can cultivate healthy relationships and here are 4 ways for millennials to date while social distancing:
Purposeful Conversations- talking on the phone to someone you are interested in without being able to see them for a while allows you to have deeper and more purposeful conversations. You become more engaged with that person and ask questions about who they are, what are their needs, what are their wants, what matters the most to them in a relationship. etc. With intentional conversations, you have a better discernment on if they are meant for you or not.
FaceTime, Skype, IG Video Calls-these methods allow you to see the person without being in their presence. This way, you are still abiding by the CDC guidelines while virtually meeting the person and reading their body language. As an added bonus, you are invited into their personal space without having to actually come to their house. Pay attention to background noise, and if they are consistently in the same house (yup, I went there). This allows you to get to know them on a more personal level without even asking them questions.
Digital Dinner Dates-I’ve seen someone get creative the other day and ordered food for their date, had it delivered to their place and called the on FaceTime so they could eat together. I think this is adorable and this could be something for you to do. Or if you want to get creative, find a recipe that you both can enjoy, and video chat while cooking, this helps build teamwork.
Digital Movie Nights-since movies theaters are closed and you can’t go to the movies, with Netflix Watch Party, you can watch movies together! It synchronizes video playback and adds a group chat for you to discuss what happened in the movie. So pop your popcorn, sit back, relax and enjoy the movie from the comfort of your home!
As you can see, there are still ways to date while practicing social distancing. You can still beat the physical dating barriers, while getting to know your potential partner on a deeper level. Otherwise, if you’re just looking for a hookup on these dating apps, STOP IT! You’re part of the problem, and that goes for coronavirus, sexually transmitted diseases and toxic relationships. Flatten the curve while taking these tips so you can have a better and healthier dating life!