What Dating in 2022 Has Looked Like

Well, would you look at that — the last quarter of 2022 is here!

For the last two years, time has moved at a glacial pace (no thanks to COVID-19), so the fact that it’s already October can come as a shock to some of us.

That’s perfectly okay since this feeling is part of the “new normal.”

Although this isn’t a new lesson for us, one of the things that quarantining has taught us is that change is the only constant thing in an inconsistent world.

Sometimes, it gradually manifests itself. There are instances, though, where it just punches us in the face.

The pandemic has undoubtedly turned everything upside down; dating is no exception. Staying indoors pushed most of us to connect with our partners in creative ways while doing some much-needed introspection.

For singles, looking for love was restricted to swiping left or right and, as kids say these days, sliding into one’s DMs (read: sending direct messages).

Now that the world has opened up again, some pre-pandemic dating habits (in-person dates, for example) have crept back in. With those habits come new dating trends shaped by the past two years.

If you’re curious about what dating in 2022 looks like, here are three concepts you may (or may not) have encountered.

Meet-cutes are back!

Fancy a meet-cute straight out of a rom-com? Good news: they have re-emerged!

No, they don’t always play out like they do on movies and TV shows. However, you can have a charming encounter with an attractive stranger now that it’s relatively safe to go out again.

Why are meet-cutes happening again, you ask? Dating coach Kirstie Taylor has an answer. “More people are realizing that love won’t just happen to them, even more so while we’re in this pandemic,” she says.

Have yourself a meet-cute by creating situations that make them possible. Taylor herself recommends this. “More people will be intentional about meeting and introducing themselves to people they see in real life, because they know that love can happen in unexpected ways,” she adds.

Meet-cutes make dating a more exciting experience. Who says finding love can’t be just as fun?

Dry dating is a thing.

Dates in bars and pubs aren’t unheard of. Some people may even need a drink (or two) to calm their nerves and get the ball rolling with their matches.

As COVID-19 came, however, those places were forced to hit the snooze button and shut their doors.

As people were stuck in their homes, many reflected on their relationships with booze. Because of that, some folks now prefer to keep alcohol to a minimum or away during dates. This is a phenomenon known as dry dating.

While this concept isn’t an old one, we can consider this as a “dating in 2022” trend because of its recent uptick.

In a survey conducted by a dating app, 74% of its 3,000 participants said that they restricted their alcohol consumption over the last year. An astonishing 94% of them admitted to being interested in someone who swears off drinking altogether.

If you’re looking to cut down on alcohol during dates, you may want to hop on this trend. There’s no harm in trying, right?

Conscious singlehood is a-ok!

All the time spent indoors has led some people to realize that they’re perfectly fine with riding solo. Romance isn’t high on their list of priorities because they enjoy having their “me” time, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Conscious singlehood (a riff off the Gwyneth Paltrow-coined “unconscious coupling” term) is the deliberate decision to stay single for a while. This choice helps them become more mindful of their approaches to dating.

If you feel like you need a break from all the apps and hookups, why not try adopting this mindset?

Love will always be a challenging matter to navigate. However, dating in 2022 shouldn’t be as complicated as rocket science.

Should you follow the aforementioned trends to keep up with modern dating? No, you don’t have to. You can, however, take a few cues from them and apply your takeaways into your dating life.