7 Benefits of Dating During the Coronavirus Pandemic

If you thought dating was complicated, brace yourself. It just got more complicated. The combination of social distancing and online dating seems like mission impossible . And since a date in real life is now pretty much in conflict with all the corona measures, singles are wondering if there are better ways to spend their time.

Many people think that dating is the last thing on singles’ minds, but the opposite is true. The corona crisis is causing a boom on dating apps and websites: the demand for connection is greater than ever. Sadness, fear and uncertainty increase the universal need for contact with others. Stressful circumstances like the current one only make this innate desire stronger.

In a time when hugging is our favorite way to go, but getting an emoji in return, it’s impossible to date the way we’re used to. Who knows how long it will be before we can hold hands after a date again, without the urge to dip that hand in a jar of hand sanitizer first?

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7 Benefits of Dating During the Pandemic

If you’re currently single, it’s tempting to think that dating is out of the question. But the current situation doesn’t mean you have to put your dating life on hold : it requires creativity. What was normal is no longer normal. And if you were frustrated by the superficiality before the coronavirus pandemic, here’s the good news. The “new normal” doesn’t just have limitations for singles, it also has advantages.

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1. You can take it easy

If you’ve matched on a dating app but haven’t met in person yet, social distancing means you have more time to get to know each other. A quick coffee date after a day or two of chatting? Forget it. Now you get to really get to know each other, before you even meet in person . It’s almost a bit old-fashioned, but made possible by modern technology.

2. You build an emotional bond faster

Research has shown that experiencing a stressful event can encourage prosocial behavior and strengthen your bonds with others. In difficult times, we look to each other for support. And that is precisely the advantage for singles: it is easier to build an emotional bond than before the crisis. Everyone is more vulnerable because of everything that is happening and that is an opportunity to strengthen your bonds with others.

3. You have fewer obligations

Unless you’re a single parent juggling parenthood with working from home, things are nice and quiet for most singles right now. You have fewer obligations and therefore more time to work on your love life. Work, study and other obligations? Not right now. One of the barriers that normally prevents you from dating is time. But this roadblock won’t stop you from crossing paths with other dating app users.

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4. You have fewer dates, more quality

The days of a date twice a week are over. If you go on a date now, the chances are greater that it will actually work out. The pre-selection is stricter because you have more time (and actually no choice) to date more selectively. How often have you been on a date with someone and quickly realized that this person is not a match for you? ‘You should have done your homework better’, you thought afterwards. The new trend of video calling as a date idea saves you the awkward situation of an (in retrospect) unwanted encounter.

5. You can now make video calls almost anywhere

The lockdowns and their aftermath have us entering uncharted dating territory. Why swipe and match if dating is not an option? The solution offered by the apps is the introduction of video chat features that bring speed dating to the virtual world. The global measures have accelerated the rollout of several features that allow singles to date each other without having to meet in person.

6. You have plenty to discuss

COVID-19, coronavirus, pandemic and SARS-CoV-2: these are the topics that everyone is talking about right now. And they are also the topics that people like to talk about right now. Maybe it is to complain about the measures, maybe it is about the global suffering that is being caused. With everything that is happening in the world right now, there is no shortage of conversation starters , opening lines and topics.

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7. You can explore a later click

In the pre-corona era, you made the choice on the first date and let the chemical signals of attraction determine whether someone was right for you. But everyone knows that love can also grow, even after you initially didn’t like someone at all. Who doesn’t know someone who fell in love with someone else who was initially a nobody .

Sometimes we tend to rely completely on our intuition and lack of chemistry , but then we forget all the important things that matter: values, communication, humor and equality. Virtual dating gives you more time to explore all these things.

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