(Photo 53141518 © Rido | Dreamstime.com)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Single on Valentines Day?

Experts weigh in on how to date during COVID-19

Feb 14, 2021 | 6:09 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB– Dating during a pandemic can be a daunting task. Enter social distancing requirements, bans on indoor gatherings, and sudden closures of typical dating spots like movie theatres, and finding a place to hang out can be a challenge. But there are ways to still enter the dating market safely, according to experts.

“Some things that I have always done and recommended to people is to meet in a public place and go for a walk. So whether that be a mall that’s open when it is super cold or somewhere along the river where it is really populated. And we can certainly do this, with physical distancing,” said Lynda Switzer, a certified couples therapist and coach based out of Calgary.

In fact, Switzer said for women, in particular, the pandemic is a great time to really get to know your prospective partner before getting serious.

“It’s easier to quickly see what the man’s intention is now. Because it seems to come out, and they are also learning what kind of beliefs the person has quickly that may have taken, many, many more dates to uncover. So we find out, is this person a rule follower? Are they a rule breaker? Are they a conspiracy theorist? Are they fearful?” she said.

Instead of sticking to just texts and a dating app early on, Switzer recommends progressing to phone calls and video chat type dates, if meeting in person publicly is still not possible.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

12h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

18h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

Dec 11, 2024

“You can certainly have a visual reference on all kinds of things. Like what are their surroundings? So you get this insight to see where they live and a little bit on how they maybe keep their place that you wouldn’t normally probably venture to get in the first three or five or whatever number of dates,” she said.

Switzer said the pandemic has led to a drive to find someone to spend time with, and singles looking for quarantine buddies have become popular.

“What the idea is, is to not be completely isolated, or completely alone, and to have someone you can watch movies with, share meals with, probably have intimate time with, to other allowed activities like going to walks and to avoid being 100 percent completely alone,” she said.

To find that special someone, another relationship expert said it’s important to put yourself out there even in the smallest of ways.

“You want to take baby steps. If you are really shy and they have a lot of anxiety by talking to people, it’s important to just get yourself out there and socializing even at a minimal level. If you start making a habit of walking down the street every morning and say hi to people, that simple habit can start having an effect,” said Eddy Baller, relationship expert at Conquer & Win.

As for why some people are always single, Baller said that depends, but body language is a factor that holds some people back.

“People very often walk around not knowing what they are communicating to the world. You see people with the frowny faces. They may not be actually upset or anything, just habitually they started adopting that kind of face or body language that makes it look like they are being anti-social,”Baller said.

Finally, if finding a relationship doesn’t pan out, don’t fret. Switzer said now is an excellent time to enjoy your own company by designing a life filled with activities that bring joy and focuses on self-love, growth, and healing.