Over the past year, the COVID-19 outbreak has affected each and every part of our lives. From school, jobs, social life, and mental health, people were forced to reconvene. One part of life that has greatly changed is dating.
How do I meet new people to date in quarantine?
Meeting people online is a great way to find a spark with not much effort. Some dating apps include Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Her, and Coffee Meets Bagel. (quarantine-dating-apps)
“First, make no assumptions. Some people are only comfortable with video dates; others, and this isn’t hypothetical, are still willing to suggest a threesome before noon on a Tuesday,” said Jen Livengood, 37, a Nashville television producer In a New York Times are on How to Date During a Pandemic.
When meeting people it is usually smart to have a virtual first date. This is important because you can feel for how an in-person date will go and it is much safer with a stranger.
“Much like having coffee or a drink before committing to dinner or a long night of activities together, you want to start with the low-commitment meeting first,” says Esther Boykin, LMFT, the CEO of Group Therapy Associates.
Having a virtual first date is also beneficial if you don’t want to risk potentially exposing yourself to the virus!
“There’s an element of mitigating risks when it comes to dating right now. Why risk exposure if you aren’t even sure you like each other’s faces or can engage in pleasant conversation together,” said Boykin in this article: How to Date During Quarantine: All Your Questions Answered
Once you have had time to see if they are worth putting on a mask and going out, make sure you both are tested negative for COVID-19. Next, if you both decide to go out make sure it is a place where you can stay 6 feet away from those around you.
Here are some date ideas, depending on COVID-19 restrictions in your area:
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Meet for outside dining
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Go to a park
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Walk a city
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Go to the zoo
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Stroll around a garden
However, dating is not only difficult for those meeting new people but also for those in relationships already.
“There isn’t space anymore for the type of dating I used to like best: casual, in between. The only two options left are alone and together. In our heightened states, I’m noticing tension between me and my coupled friends as I struggle to understand what it’s like to quarantine with a partner, and they struggle to understand what it’s like to quarantine without one. I worry that the chasm between the singles and the couples is growing too wide to cross,” said Ginny Hogan in an article on How Quarantine Is Dividing Singles and Couples
How do I maintain a relationship during quarantine?
Maintaining a relationship during quarantine is difficult, but not impossible. There have been many instances where people have broken up because of quarantine and issue of distance, however in some instances, it is easier to hold onto a significant other for normalcy and comfort.
“This is going to be a period of great growth for relationships,” says the anthropologist Helen Fisher, in an article on How to Maintain Your Relationship in Quarantine “Couples are either going to grow together or grow apart.”
Here are some ways to maintain your relationship:
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Facetime Dates
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Online games:
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PSYCH! Ellen Degeneres game
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20 questions
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Virtual tour of museums and gallery:
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Get dressed up for fun and have themed dates
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Netflix Party
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Cooking food together
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Sending Gifts/Food
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Mailing Letters
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Make art, or write poetry
How do I quarantine with my S/O?
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Keep a routine
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Respect and know boundaries
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Be flexible with their time
It is important to keep a routine and have things you do every day, as well as things you do on certain days. Spending time away from your significant other and doing your own activities and work will keep you sane and will keep the relationship healthy.