It’s February and love is in the air – what can inhaling the good stuff look like for you?

Whether you’re currently in a fairy-tale relationship, just went through a brain chemistry altering break-up, or are a happily self-proclaimed ‘single pringle’, when the month of February comes around we tend to find ourselves on the topic of love. While there are valid criticisms of Valentine’s day just being another holiday that the forces of capitalism have corrupted, beyond the roses and hallmark cards is a deeply human need for connection that drives the yearly commotion.

If you’re in the market for a relationship or a night of intense connection, you may find yourself contemplating your friends’ offers to set you up on a blind date or thinking about downloading Tinder again. Whatever the reason, it can’t hurt to learn about the dating landscape before welcoming an arrow from Cupid.

And if you’re already in a relationship, you don’t have to skip this article – read on to find out more about the trials and tribulations you may have been lucky enough to skip.

Single pringles, don’t think I forgot about you. For some reason we always find ourselves dishing out relationship and dating advice to our love-sick friends – we really should be awarded an honorary degree in ‘relationshipology’ – so this article could have some points for you to use the next time you’re asked for input, even when you’re really just thinking: “Tell me again why y’all can’t just break up?”

Without further ado, grab yourself a box of chocolates, and let’s get into the highs and lows of dating today.

Situationships

What better way is there to start a conversation about today’s dating practices than with situationships?

Not quite a relationship and a little more than friends with benefits, according to Dictionary.com, a situationship “often refers to a complex situation in which two people are in something that resembles some sort of romantic [and/or sexual] relationship but remains undefined.”

Situationships become an attractive option for those who are looking for intimacy without commitment, on a self-growth journey, or are simply in need of something that’s convenient. While this approach is completely justifiable, the issue with situationships comes along when there isn’t clear communication between the parties involved.

For example, if one person is looking for something more, then that could become a point of conflict. There could even be the case that you haven’t properly communicated with yourself. Like with all forms of relationships, it requires a certain degree of vulnerability. Is this something you’re okay with under this setting?

Hook-up culture

One night stands, casual sex, and intimacy without the commitment part.

Depending on who you are and where you are in life, you may have reacted to that sentence with pearl-clutching horror, intrigue or something in-between. Whatever it may be, it’s completely valid.

Like situationships, there’s that aspect of emotional vulnerability that some may not feel comfortable with sharing with in a hook-up situation. Coupled with different values and beliefs surrounding sex, it’s just not something that’s for everybody.

But if you do find yourself enjoying various dance partners in the sheets, that’s a vibe too. It’s not perfect as it can be emotionally draining and come with higher chances of getting STIs. On the flip side however, it can be a great way for you to explore what you like and don’t like in low stakes situations. Also, if you don’t want a romantic relationship for whatever reason, and still want to tango, hooking up remains a viable option (aside from your hand or sex toys).

Important things to keep in mind if you decide to participate in hook-up culture is to do so responsibly and take care of yourself. Wrap it up, talk to potential partners about testing, and regularly check in with your mental health.

Dating apps

During 2023, the online dating industry brought in revenues of over $2.9 billion USD globally, and is on a positive trajectory of growth expecting to reach $3.4 billion USD in 2028. Online dating platforms make money through things such as subscriptions and advertising. Keeping you with them for as long as possible is their primary goal.

As long as you’re realistic with your expectations, dating apps are a valid option for finding romantic and sexual connections, short or long. 

Take proper precautions when meeting someone you met online (no matter how dreamy they are), such as meeting in a public place and letting a person you trust know where you’re going and who you’re with. This way you can lower your chances of ending up on your favorite true crime podcast.

Make your intentions clear with both yourself and the people you’re meeting. Communication is key to a happy outcome whatever that may look like for you.

Dating coaches

One Canadian platform offers different dating coaches and their services starting at $52 an hour. Another features a three month coaching program for $2500, an online dating coaching program for $1500, and a $450 service to help you write your online dating profile.

Clearly if you’re hiring a dating coach you’ve got money to spend, and you’re well within your right to do so. But if you want my advice, I’d say you’re better off downloading a dating app and getting a premium subscription. Find yourself a hobby or join a pottery club or something. Then, donate the money you saved to a good cause like me, cause I definitely have better things to do with it than you.

Smash or pass dating today?

During the nineties when you dialed your crush’s home phone, you had to hope that it wasn’t their parents that picked up. In the fifties, dates had to be introduced to the family and PDA was discouraged in theaters. Dating in the Victorian era was bogged down with tedious rituals and immense social expectations.

Challenges in dating have been a thing probably since the dawn of humanity. So maybe you can find some semblance of peace in that fact. The point I’m trying to make here is, navigating the dating scene has never been easy for any generation and probably never will be. But then again, matters of the heart have never been simple.

Dating in today’s day and age has its ups and downs, but what’s the best way to navigate it? Everybody’s got an opinion – and so do I. The difference between me and them is that I’ve got an honorary degree in relationshipology (don’t look it up, just trust me).

We all have different ideas of what a perfect relationship would look like – if we’re even interested in one at all. I think the most important thing to do before entering the dating world is figure out what that looks like for you, and to make sure you have the skills to communicate that to potential partners.

Despite everything from movies to advertisements constantly telling us otherwise, there’s more to life than ‘finding the one’. Live life, experience new things, learn a new language, and find yourself. Become the person you wouldn’t mind spending the rest of your life with even if you never manage to find your ‘perfect match’.

After all, who says true love has to come with a kiss?