It’s tough for singles out there — but it looks like those looking for love are finally taking steps to protect their hearts as they navigate the tough world of dating.
After constantly being “ghosted” and victimized by “breadcrumbing,” a new dating trend has emerged that helps minimize the emotional toll of being with a potential partner.
According to dating app Bumble’s annual report, “Guardrailing” is a new term coined to describe those who set boundaries and protect their energy while dating.
And it’s one of many new trends aimed at balancing mental health and life’s challenges that the dating app believes we’ll see more of in the coming months.
Guard fence
“The trends we’re predicting for 2023 speak volumes about how singles are feeling after a tumultuous year,” Bumble communications director Lucille McCart told news.com.au.
“While the Guardian is all about setting boundaries and protecting our energy, another new trend we call love-life balance is that people want work-life balance not just for themselves, but for themselves. shows. partner.â€
Bumble says the return of office culture and busy social schedules has fueled this new trend, leaving many singles “feeling overwhelmed”.
“It’s forced us all to prioritize our boundaries, and more than half (52%) have set more boundaries in the past year,” Lucille said.
“It involves being clearer about our emotional needs and boundaries, more thoughtful and intentional about how we put ourselves out there, and less socially overcommitted.â€
Love-life balance
Lucille added that it’s “really interesting” to see people caring less about careers as a “status symbol” and instead “prioritizing leisure and leisure” in their relationships.
“More than half of people (54%) are more concerned about their work/life balance than their career status,†he said.
Over the past year, more than half of people (52%) are actively creating more space for breaks and relaxation.
At the same time, the study found that there is one person who does not want a relationship with any single person, because “one in 10 people will no longer date someone who has a very demanding job”.
Open casting
Other new trends include a phenomenon called “open casting,” where people move away from their traditional “types” and instead partner with someone they wouldn’t normally go for.
According to a Bumble report, one in three people are now open to considering who they date – and this is even more common in Australia, with 42% dating outside of their usual ‘type’.
“Through open casting, we see people meeting outside of their own type and valuing emotional maturity over physical attractiveness, which means we focus less on superficial qualities like looks and who we are emotionally compatible with. shows that we are paying more attention. € Lucille explained.
Wanderlove
With travel back in our lives, singles seem to want a mix of adventure and romance, with an increasing number of acquaintances saying they’re more open to relationships with people outside their current city.
“The trend toward regional love is no surprise, as the return of international travel leaves us more open to the idea of holiday romance,†said Lucille.
Introduction to the Renaissance
But while some are looking for love, there has also been an influx of new singles in Australia since the pandemic, which Bumble describes as a “dating renaissance”.
“One in three people on Bumble (39%) have ended a marriage or serious relationship in the past two years – this is even more common in Australia at 42%,” Lucille said.
“These people are now entering their second chapter, with one in three (36%) using dating apps for the first time, learning to navigate the new dating language and codes.â€
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