As more and more Americans get the COVID-19 vaccine, getting a new shot at love doesn't seem too far out of reach. When getting back into the dating scene this summer, make sure you're taking the proper precautions.
Dr. Caleb Alder, a licensed psychiatrist at UC Health and a professor at the University of Cincinnati, shares some of his tips for dating safely and responsibly.
Dating after the COVID-19 vaccine:Cincinnati singles are giving love another shot
1. Have a plan
When getting back out in the dating scene, be it can be helpful to know what you want.
"It can be helpful to set priorities for what one ultimately wants from dating – a long-term relationship, a short-term relationship, a hookup. I’m not weighing in as to what someone should be seeking, just suggesting that setting one’s goals explicitly can be helpful. For one thing, how one goes about looking for a relationship and for what one looks is likely to vary depending on one’s dating goals." Adler said.
2. Don't settle
Dating may be hard when people you know are further along than you are. But Adler says, don't settle.
"While on the COVID social hiatus, many people may have built up expectations as to future dating partners. There’s nothing wrong with setting standards but it might be helpful to take the time to consciously examine those standards to assess how important individual criteria might be. And don’t use friends’ relationships as a benchmark for one’s own; unsurprisingly, different people look for different things in romantic partners."
3. Slow and steady is best
Although we've been on lockdown for a year, Adler says don't rush. There will be plenty of opportunities.
"It shouldn’t be a surprise to find oneself feeling an urge to move a relationship along quickly after hiding away for a year. It might be helpful though, to pause for a self-reminder that there’s no rush; and to avoid moving things along more quickly than is comfortable. The other side of that point is that one should be careful not to let oneself be pushed by a new partner into moving faster than one might like; new partners may be feeling the post-COVID dating rush as well. And despite impressions to the contrary, there are still plenty of people to meet. Even in Cincinnati."
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