Over the last year, many things have shifted in the ways we socialize and gather with people and finally, we are moving into the post pandemic experience.

For single people, the pandemic made it close-to-impossible to go on dates in-person and at first, it seemed like the possibility of “meeting the one” was slim to none. Fortunately, people quickly found ways to make meaningful connections and went on dates by means of technology and other creative platforms. We have come a long way since last March, and we are excited to share with you 3 major things that have changed since 45% of Americans are vaccinated…

First off… It’s important to understand that not only are we shifting into the post pandemic experience on a large scale, but individually we are going through transformations and need to start asking ourselves high quality questions about where we are now. 

A lot of the time, we hold this specific and precious vision of the life we want, and when it doesn’t end up looking like that, we freak out and escape the present moment. We want you to make this period of transformation an opportunity for you to truly grow and put into practice everything that you have learned over the past year. 

After doing some research and digging, we found 3 notable shifts in the dating world over the course of the pandemic and what that means for you now.  

1.    Dating apps are being used more than ever AND more quality men are on them. 

• These days, there is no excuse for you not getting OUT THERE (or getting on the couch) and meeting new guys. 
• Recent statistics show that not only are people happy to date from home, but that more men are READY to date more than ever. The commitment from both sides is clear and the pool of quality men is evidently increasing.
• Reports from OK Cupid and Bumble noted that they have seen an increase in virtual dates by 700%, and a spike in the video call function by 93%. 

• Hinge reported that currently, 70% of its members would be up for a phone or video call date.

2.    People are prioritizing emotional connection and more men are looking for the real thing. 

• One thing that Covid taught people is that being alone during quarantine was not fun and they wouldn’t want to do it again. 
• Coming out of covid, more people are looking for serious relationships; they are doing the work to prepare themselves, valuing emotional connection and kindness, and taking the time to get to know each other deeply. These are all promising for long-lasting romantic relationships.
• 58% of Americans on dating apps say they’ve shifted toward more intentional dating since the pandemic.
• 69% are being more honest with potential partners and 63% are spending more time getting to know them.
• Casual approaches are on the decline
  • 20% dip in users on OkCupid looking for a hookup.

3.   People’s Behavior Have Changed

• People have changed over the last year. Because everyone has been practicing isolation, they are feeling more vulnerable. 
• Before 2020, Americans were staying single longer and having kids later, in favor of busier lives, rife with professional and social demands. But lockdown has put a halt to many people’s rich social lives, leading them to redistribute some of this energy – and some of these needs – to their love lives. As Dr. Hall says, “when you take a single person who is not getting their social needs met by all of the people who they would normally see outside of their home, they actually have emotional bandwidth to engage in a much deeper way… and a lot more energy to be able to invest in those types of conversations.
• Even before the pandemic, kindness was the top trait that men and women wanted in a romantic partner. And the importance of kindness seems magnified now, in how people portray themselves and in what they are looking for in a partner.

So…what does all of this mean? 

The country is starting to shift into the post pandemic experience, and we need to start asking ourselves high quality questions about where we are now. How can we continue to engage with what is now, and what we want our life to look like? We all hold this precious vision of the life we want, and when it doesn’t look like that, we freak out and are not living in the NOW.