I love Valentine’s Day, and it’s up there on the totem pole with Halloween as my two favorite holidays, but not everyone feels the same.
Thankfully, there are alternatives: Galentine’s Day to celebrate female friendships, Palentine’s Day to honor all non-romantic connections, and Singles Awareness Day the day after Valentine’s to recognize your solo life.
Still, if you’re single, you probably spent time swiping left and right on dating apps with the hope of finding your Valentine. With all of the swiping frenzy, it’s common to suffer from swipe fatigue or dating app burnout, and yes they’re very real.
So what’s a single guy or gal to do?
Do you ditch dating apps in frustration? Hope your friends will be fixing you up? Decide that flying solo for the rest of your life isn’t a bad idea?
The answer is simple. Ignore all three options, and go on a Digital Dating Detox, and here are 3 reasons why.
1. A 2-Week Digital Detox Reduces Dating Anxiety
The search for “the one” can be stressful. Some daters panic when they accidentally swipe left on a potential match. Others obsess over why their perfect match hasn’t responded in three hours. Both can make you feel anxious.
By taking a two-week break, you can shift the focus back to yourself. Pick up that hobby you’ve been putting off—maybe those piano lessons from your New Year’s resolutions or even pickleball (which is the fastest-growing sport and dating app keyword).
RELATED: Study Finds Online Dating Remains the Top Way Couples Meet
2. Most Couples Meet Online
While meeting someone through friends or IRL sounds ideal, the data tells a different story. A Stanford University study on relationships found that:
- 53% of couples meet online
- 20% meet at a bar or restaurant
- 15% meet through friends
If you’re serious about finding love, briefly stepping away from dating apps can give you a fresh perspective before you dive back in.
3. A Refreshed Dating App Profile = New Fresh Faces
New people become single all of the time and join dating apps. Often the disappointment over Valentine’s Day results in post V-Day breakups. They say you need to be in the game to win, and that’s true when you’re looking for love online.
RELATED: The Digital Matchmaker Guide to Finding Love on Dating Apps
By taking a two-three week break, you can shift the focus back to yourself. Pick up that hobby you’ve been putting off—maybe those piano lessons from your New Year’s resolutions or even pickleball (which is the fastest-growing sport and dating app keyword).
Taking a short break and turning off push notifications can help reset your mindset. When you return, you’ll have a fresh perspective, and your newfound confidence will shine through to those you’re swiping right on.
But don’t wait too long. If you truly want to change your relationship status, know there are plenty of singles hoping to meet someone like you.
RELATED: Digital Matchmaker – 5 Tips to Find Love Online
Wishing you much love and joy in cyberspace, or wherever you may swipe or roam. xo
Julie Spira is the Digital Matchmaker® and America’s Top Online Dating Expert. She’s an award-winning certified dating coach who’s been helping singles find their perfect match for over three decades. Follow @JulieSpira on IG and @digitalmatchmaker on TikTok.
