How to Navigate Dating During a Pandemic

Good ol’ Covid has changed a lot for us over the past year and a bit. Perhaps one of the hardest things to adjust to are the new social distancing regulations which make it less likely for the disease to spread. This obviously puts a huge spanner in the works for our dating lives – staying a metre away from your date at all times makes it kinda hard for things to progress. Then again, risking your physical wellbeing isn’t particularly sexy either.

The pandemic is a highly politicised thing, with everybody having vastly differing opinions on the matter and how we should go about treating it. If you do happen to find someone that you want to try going out with, whether through increasingly popular dating apps or mutual friends, it’s really important to establish where you stand on topics like mask wearing and social distancing early on. If there is a fundamental difference in these viewpoints you’re likely not to get along so well and will probably even disagree on how to go about your first date. Expressing this might be nerve wracking, which is totally understandable. What if being direct about my views will make me seem less cool or too serious? Though we understand the feeling, that’s not true! You can always bring it up lightly instead of making it a super serious conversation, and we promise it’ll save you more trouble in the long run. You don’t wanna start off with communication issues before you even have your first date!

There’s a phenomenon that’s been borne of the pandemic called FODA – fear of dating again. This comes as no surprise. Our lack of socialization may leave us feeling like our interpersonal skills are super rusty, which can create a lot of anxiety. Surveys have also shown that after a loney and difficult time more people are looking for long-term connections, which is certainly scarier than casual dating and can put a lot of pressure on us to find “the one”. Don’t let FODA get you down. Loads of people have it, and your date probably will too! Try a Zoom date before you meet up in person to make the experience less overwhelming. Make sure that you still feel your best for it and get ready for the date as you would if you were going out. Put on a nice dress, do your makeup, and remind yourself that you’re hot af. Feeling confident will go a long way in relieving your social anxiety.

On the other hand, plenty of people are looking for their “shot girl summer” and are wanting to have a little casual fun, no strings attached. Though we’re going into winter, the sentiment remains the same – we need something to warm us up! So how do you navigate casual sex and short-term flings with social distancing in the way? One way to do it is to reflect on your opinions on sending nudes, phone sex and racy video calls. If you feel comfortable doing those things, then you’ve got your solution. We know it’s not quite the same as being intimate in person, but it’s a covid-friendly start.

Many of the anxieties that we’re experiencing about pandemic dating are not new. Fear around vulnerability, rejection and awkwardness have always been a feature of dating even though they might be a little heightened right now. Know that you’re not alone in your worries, and that we’re all going through this collectively!

rubies, let us know in the comments below what your thoughts and views are regarding dating during a pandemic? We’d love to hear from you!

rubybox HQ

X