With little to no available options to meet someone in person, many singles have turned to online dating to find a potential mate. Regardless of whether they’re searching for a long-term commitment or looking for something more casual on the best hookup sites, dating during the pandemic has definitely been a novel experience for many, and it’s come with many challenges. For example, with broad-ranging quarantine restrictions in place, how are people who have met in the digital world actually manage to meet in person? And if they choose to do so, what should they take into consideration before taking the plunge?
In this article, we’re going to cover everything from online dating conversation starters to the hottest questions of our time, which revolve around dating in the era of COVID. So, if you feel ready to go on an online dating site on a quest for love during the pandemic, you’ve landed on the right spot. Read on to find out our advice and get prepared for the dating adventure that lays ahead of you!
Online Dating Profile Tips
First off, let’s start with some tips on how to make your online dating profile stand out. You want to make sure that you attract the right match and not just any match! Sure, not all potential suitors will be your cup of tea, but with a few tips and tricks, you can make it so that you have to deal with as few not-so-compatible matches as possible. Here’s what we recommend you do with regards to optimizing your dating profile:
Choose an eye-catching profile picture
This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use a professionally-shot photo! Just make sure you use a picture that you feel represents you the best and brings out your best features. Don’t sweat it – if you like it enough, then it’s good enough to be put in your profile!
Say a few things about yourself
Keyword being “a few”. Dating profiles usually have a character limit, and it’s often hard to parse through large walls of text to find key information. Be as brief as possible, and make sure to include the things you deem important in yourself – as well as in a potential mate!
Explore your contact options
Based on the dating website or app you choose, you have a variety of options regarding what, if any, personal information you share with your matches. Some allow you to share your social media profiles, making it easy to find each other outside the dating sphere, while others leave it up to you to choose what you want to share. So, make sure you choose what’s best for you!
Now that we’ve covered the basics, here are some online dating tips that will get you one step closer to meeting your ideal match!
Online dating first message
Here’s what may be the biggest challenge of online dating: how do you break the ice when you can’t even see your match in person? Some might find it easier to do so through their phone screen, while others yearn for physical cues as to how they should proceed. While a “bad” first message can turn a match away, this shouldn’t bring you down. You can always change the conversation if your starter fails, and you may even joke about it to warm up to your partner. Regardless, don’t sweat it: if you both want the conversation to flow, it will, whether you have the best opening lines for online dating in your pocket or not!
Online dating questions to ask
Congratulations! Your first message worked, you two have started talking, and it seems like you may actually hit it off. So, what do you ask your match? Well, it depends on what you want to learn about them. As the conversation progresses, you’ll inevitably get an idea of your match’s likes and dislikes, as well as their character. But if you want to delve deeper or know about things that don’t come up in the conversation, make a mental list of things that would interest you to find out and try to do so but naturally. This means that you don’t.
So, when’s the right time to meet?
Now, if you’ve spoken for a while, exchanged messages on social media, called each other, and can’t escape that feeling that you want to meet in person, well, then it may actually be time to meet each other. Bear in mind, though, that the pandemic is still very much a threat, so you need to take precautions so that you both stay healthy. First off, you need to take into account the global and local guidelines set forth by healthcare agencies with regards to COVID safety. You can have a socially-distanced date at an open-air space, like a park, while wearing masks and staying 2 ft. apart. Should you decide to get intimate, a good idea would be to talk it out and have a COVID test beforehand to ensure that you both have a clean bill of health before coming into physical contact with each other.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything, including the dating world. Seeing as it’s expected that COVID restrictions will be in place for quite a bit of time, it’s wise to take dating slow and enjoy the process of meeting each other digitally before moving on to the real world. Always be mindful of health protocols and make sure that you’re both up-to-speed when it comes to your area’s latest health guidelines.
Let us know in the comments: have you tried online dating during the COVID pandemic?
About The Author
The author of this article, Ellen Orton, has been interested in psychological relationships for a long time, often attends seminars and training, and practices the acquired knowledge in classes with problem couples. In her free time, she spends time with her family, enjoys modern painting, photographs of people and nature, and also enjoys making various desserts and pastries.