Five tips to dating while practicing social distancing
How many of us are on an online dating site? Let me rephrase the question, how many of us have experienced online dating before? Well, I guess this is where I have to define “experience”: Created a profile on a dating site, met someone on IG, FB, Tinder, (or any of the other platforms out there), went on a date with someone from the social world. Does that make more sense? Before going any further, I think it’s important that we both are on the same page so I’m going to say this now: this blog entry was not created to encourage online dating. Instead, it was drafted to challenge what seems to be our new normal.
Dating is easy. Yes, I said it- it’s easy. However, dating with a purpose can be a bit difficult. I dare you to ask any single man or woman who is trying to find a significant other to build a future with can attest that it’s strenuous. To make matters worse, social distancing has now been added to the exhaustion of the dating world. How do one date during this pandemic? Well, I’m glad you asked. Here are my five tips:
Health check: Before, during and after Covid, I think this is a rule of thumb- if you are sick, please stay away from others. It is both parties responsibility to make sure the person you plan on meeting is not coughing, has a fever, lost their taste or smell, ect… If both parties are well, I suggest doing something outdoors. Many businesses have closed their doors during this time of the year, and that’s okay. This is where you have to be a bit creative. Therefore, a picnic at a park, bike riding, visiting a farmer’s market, etc… keep the limitations in mind and don’t forget to wear your mask.
FaceTime dinner- I’d like for you to take off the normal hat for a second and challenge yourself to try something different/new. You and I both know nothing compares to the physical. A FaceTime dinner will never compare to a physical dinner BUUUUTTTT, it all comes down to what you make of it. I encourage you to plan for it: pick an outfit, a restaurant, a time. Decide on who’s buying dinner (Uber eats it), make sure the devices are charged. Treat is as an actual date. Have fun, relax and have a great time at the comfort of your home.
Walk or exercise together- substitute dinner for a walk or jog. A date does not always have to be at a restaurant or somewhere fancy.. Do something different. We are in phase two right now which means some public parks are open. Take advantage of that. Some of the most interesting conversations come from casual walks. Plus, after being forced to stay home for months, you ought to do something outdoors.
Breakfast in the park- If you are like me who enjoys creating memories, you’ll want to try this tip. One thing I enjoy about working in midtown Manhattan is having the flexibility to go to Central Park for a walk while I sip on my coffee. The beauty of having breakfast in a park is that you get to enjoy nature at the same time. The sun rising, the birds singing, the smell of the trees- I mean, can you ask for more? Try it out!
Drive-in movie- This is pretty self explanatory. Drive-in movies are becoming a thing now especially during this time of the year. I’ve heard some great things about them. One great benefit of a drive-in movie is that, one is in his/her car which eliminates the worry of keeping “6 feet apart” distance.
Okay daters, lovers, or friends there you have it my five tips on dating while practicing social distancing. I would love to hear about your current dating experience. Is it easier or harder for you? How are you managing? Leave a comment below to let me know what you think about my tips. Also, don’t forget to subscribe for more updates!
