10 Tips While Dating During A Pandemic
Dating during pandemic is a unique experience that none of us thought we would face! Even though it might be scary, there are ways to keep your love life alive and well.
Talk About It (forms bond, immediate understanding)
Simply talk about what is going in. It’s best to tackle it straight on. This is good for several reasons:
- You learn new perspectives
- Form an emotional bond
- Immediate understanding
Sometimes, it can be hard to form a solid emotional bond and understanding with a person. Having a common stressor is relatable. As a bonus, you get to learn more about the person through their perspective.
Use Skype-like Services
Using software like Skype or Facetime, is a nice way to be there without actually being there. Plus, there is so much you can do. You don’t have to just sit there and chat, but you can also play games with each other.
Try games like:
- Drinking games to get to know each other
- Charades
- Or even games like hangman
Dating during pandemic doesn’t have to be a drag, there just might be a screen in the way.
Use Netflix Party
Netflix Party is a great service from Netflix. One person sends a link to an online room through Netflix, and you and your person (or group of friends) can chat and watch a movie. The downside to this is that it only works for Netflix. The good news is that there are so many others to choose from!
Watching a movie together is one of the most popular ways to spend time with a person. When dating during pandemic, try to keep that alive.
Take Time For You
This is one perk of taking while staying at home. Sometimes, in a new relationship, we get too excited and spend a majority of time and attention on the other person. This is normal, but it can also burn through the relationship quickly. Dating during pandemic is good time to take it slow.
Not being around the other person so much, gives you the opportunity to move slow and take time for you. Take this time to really get to know the other person before jumping into something more serious. It’s fun to keep the mystery alive.
Taking care of yourself during this time is also a great way to figure out yourself and what you want. Or maybe you are just casually dating and want to give yourself some space to do you, either way, it’s a good time to figure it out.
Be Observant
Things are stressful right now. For others, it may be more stressful due to personal reasons. But, there is no denying that everyone is a little stressed out.
Take the time to observe your love match and see how they handle stress. This is an important factor to note because in a potential future together, there will be a lot of stressful times. If you are a talker and they are a “hide until it’s over” type- it might not work.
Having so many stressful times happening in the present day, you have the opportunity to see if they are compatible and what their passions are. Dating during pandemic gives you time to observe their behaviors under stress.
Make a List of Date Ideas
The best thing about being in is appreciating all the things that are outside. When dating during pandemic, let yourself look forward to what is going to happen after you and your honey can see each other.
Spend time together talking about all the things you want to do with each other and all the places you want to eat at. This will give you something to look forward to and make it all the more sweeter when you can.
Mail each other little gifts
With the power of technology, you no longer need to shop in person for a thoughtful. There are several websites that let you send gifts such as flowers, chocolates, or small trinkets. You can also order them food and have it delivered.
A lot of people love receiving little tokens of love, make sure you nurture that need and tell the other person that need as well.
Stick to a Schedule
It’s hard enough to feel organized and productive at home, and a love life isn’t making things easier. You don’t have to stick to a schedule down to the minute, but try to schedule a time to talk or video chat with one another.
Avoid various distractions when talking with your new love interest. That time you carved out, is just for them. On top of that, try to stick to the time you picked out. Just because you aren’t on an actual date, doesn’t mean you can be flaky.
Keep Your Options Open
If you are already in a committed relationship and you are just trying your hand at dating during pandemic, that’s okay, keep reading.
There are a few things I mean when I say “options”. For people just casually dating, keep your options open means don’t worry about picking one person to get you through the pandemic. It might be totally different on the outside!
For those who are committed, simply keep your options open by being openminded at the possibility that people are different through technology. It also means trying to be okay with what your sweetheart wants to try. In some cases, you might not have even thought of a phone sex sesh, but keep your options open.
Don’t Stalk Their Social Media
Social media gives a look into what the other person’s life is like. It is easy to fantasize about what they must be like or how you fit into the picture. But, remember social media isn’t completely real. Things are played up, in good lighting, or angled. It’s really just the highlight reel of someone’s life. It doesn’t always show the genuine or raw facts about a person.
On top of that, they might post a picture of them enjoying themselves at home, which could kind of suck to see. It’s easy to wish that you were there! Or, FOMO might kick in.
When during pandemic, remember to avoid their social media and look for the genuine conversations you have with them.
Featured Image: Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
How are you dating during the pandemic? Let us know in the comments!
Hi! I'm Jayde. Communication expert and your relationship guru. I'm just living life one word at a time and trying to take it all in. You can catch me sipping an iced coffee and snuggling an animal.