Creative Dating: When Strange Times Calls For It.
Times are strange
these days. With the scare of COVID-19, and everyone on lockdown, self-quarantined and practicing social distancing, how do we go about dating? Being creative, that’s how! We must think outside of the box. Dating now is a good time, a great time actually! Dating during this time will cause us all to slow down… way down… and spend time getting to know one another.
Before COVID-19
lockdown, many of us were on the crazy dating merry-go-round. We’d swipe left or swipe right, match online,
start a texting chat perhaps move to a phone call. Then soon after, we’d arrange to meet in person. From the time of the first text exchange to meeting, no real quality time is spent really getting to know each other. Rather, we’re all in a hurry to meet filling in the blanks with our own expectations only to have those expectations dashed when we meet in person. While Single Girl is a proponent of meeting in person, it is also good to take time get to know one another. What a better time but during a global pandemic! Given the mandate of social distancing, we must slow down this dating process.
So, you might ask…
“Single Girl, how do we really go about meeting people and getting to know them during this time?”
Here are 10 fun ideas:
A Simple Phone or Video Date: Hey! What better way to get to know someone
but to have an ear-to-ear or (virtual) face-to-face chat? Keep it simple. Have a fun conversation, keeping the topic light with the intent of learning more about one another.Virtual Happy Hour: This is Single Girl’s favorite idea! Mix up the cocktail of your choice, turn on
your laptop, launch Zoom, Teams, FaceTime or any other video chat application, and have a good time just chatting and drinking without the awkward finding each other in the bar, or drinking too much. That said, we all know that it is still easy to “drink too much” in these times! But, take it easy on your first chat. Plus, at least you’re not driving. Bonus!Virtual Movie or Concert Night: Pick a movie of your choice and watch it together. You can choose to do this via another video chat or be on the phone together while the movie is playing. Chatting about your favorite parts of the movie. Now if you’re one of those people who don’t like to chat during the movie, then perhaps do a movie review instead after you both have watched it. Also, so many artists are now performing live in a virtual setting. Why not watch together a good concert?!
Virtual Game Night: This takes a little ingenuity. For starters, pick a game you both like and both have in your game library. A card game is a good starter, or even a “get to know you” kind of card game where you pull cards and ask each other questions. Pick something that is fun and that will keep you laughing or intrigued with one another.
Virtual Book Review. Pick a book you both want to read, read it and discuss your favorite parts or your takeaways from the book.
Virtual Walk. Take a walk with one another while either on
the phone or video chat. If you’re able to practice reasonable distancing, you can still go for a walk together in-person. Just be smart about it.Virtual Wine, Beer or Whiskey Tasting. While you’ll need to choose ahead of time the types of beverages you’ll wish to taste, you can then pull together notes about the beverages and share. You can also simply pull from your own bar and do a tasting talking about what you like about the beverage.
Virtual Cooking Date. Choosing a meal to make together, in real time, and then sharing how it turned out with each other. Single Girl just did this with one of her gal pals in Texas. We shared our recipes and then added a pinch of this, or a dash of that along the way while gabbing. Very fun!
Virtual Paint and Wine Date. Obtain the same art supplies (which granted at this point takes a bit of advanced planning and ordering ahead of such supplies from an online source like Amazon), pick a picture and paint it together while talking about your technique and enjoying a lovely glass (or glasses) of wine. You may even be able to find a YouTube artist who will walk you through the painting together.
Virtual Scavenger Hunt. Exchange a list with each other ahead of time, and then start on a scavenger hunt within your home. For example, find something with sharp edges (this could be a cutting knife or shaving razor) or find something colorful (this could be a colorful scarf). There are loads of scavenger hunt ideas online.
Be creative and have fun!
** Note: if you are not a drinker of alcohol, that’s okay! You can choose some other kind of tasting – such as teas, or coffees or chocolate! Let your imagination flow and find what works best for you.
The bottom line, there are a whole host of things you can do to meet, greet and start a potential relationship while exercising social distancing for now. Then once we can relax the social distancing rules, you’ll be ahead of the game when you do get together. You’ll have much more fun because you have those awkward first moments behind you. Have fun, build on what you’ve already started, and go from there.
One thing Single Girl has learned thus far is how people react during this trying time. When Single Girl comes across a man who is negative and complaining constantly about this situation, she runs for the hills. However, when Single Girl comes across a man who remains positive, is willing to be creative and spend time talking with her, she thinks this one may be a keeper or at least spend some time getting to know.
Be safe, be well, we will all get through these trying times together and be better for it in the end!