People often mistake taking a dating hiatus for giving up on finding love. In reality, taking a break is recommended by experts to anyone that has been at it for a while. It offers you a chance to take a step back and re-evaluate how you feel things are going.
Perhaps you just need to take a look at what you should improve to enjoy the dating scene more.
Dating should be fun. If you are starting to stress out about it, it may be time to reflect on why dating is so stressful for you.
Here are nine signs outlined by Evan Marc Katz, a dating coach, that help you assess if you need to take a dating hiatus.
You’re Suffering from Dating Fatigue
Even those who put serious effort into online dating only meet a few people every week. The scheduling, the personal lives, and unforeseen circumstances mean it takes quite some time to go on actual dates. In addition to that, you are likely not going to hit it off with someone right away. Both of these things may put a strain on you hoping to find a meaningful connection.
If you realize you’re tired of meeting new people, it is a good time to take a break and get back to a headspace where you feel enthusiastic about dating.
You Continue to Date the Wrong Man
Whether you’re trying to meet someone in person, through online dating apps, or dating sites, you’re likely to have a type. Everyone does.
If you are a Christian, you may want to find a Christian partner on a Christian dating site. If you enjoy hiking, you may want to meet only outdoorsy folks. Some people are also very specific about the appearance of the person they want to meet. In short, you have a standard. However, dating experts recommend expanding the dating pool to include more different people. If you aren’t ready to do this, it may be a good time to take a break.
You’re Starting to Date Desperately
If you’ve been putting everything you’ve got into finding the right partner online and haven’t been able to find a real connection, it is perfectly normal to start feeling like there is no one out there for you. Unfortunately, that may lead to acting out of desperation, like missing red flags in dating.
If this is how you are feeling, it is definitely time to take a break and work through those emotions. Replace dating with other fun social activities and get your mind off of being desperate to find someone.
Your Self-esteem Is in Ruin
Earlier, we recommended expanding the dating pool. However, it is important to point out that it may pose some issues. Going out with different guys can be entertaining at first, but it can quickly deplete your self-esteem. Even if you are attractive, well-educated, and have worked hard for a decent career, that may not be enough to keep a man interested.
That may be a blow to how you see yourself. To prevent this problem from deepening, you may need some time off to boost your self-esteem.
You Have Trust Issues, and It Bothers You
A definite sign that you shouldn’t be online dating at the moment is when you realize you’ve developed trust issues. It is hard to build a strong relationship from a place like that, and the right thing to do would be to work through this problem on your own.
Having trust issues doesn’t mean you should be out of the game forever. It is recommended only until you start feeling truly comfortable in a potential partnership.
Your Emotional Baggage Is Holding You Back
You may be in pain as a result of a recent breakup. Unfortunately, that can get in the way of creating a new and meaningful one. It is especially important to take time off if you’ve recently been in a toxic relationship. It will take some commitment to work through issues that can still be bothering you.
You Have No Plan To Settle Down
It’s perfectly fine to have a good time while dating. However, it isn’t okay to not be interested in settling down but not mentioning it to the people you are dating. Some people keep this information to themselves because they think they can’t get that many dates otherwise. The respectful thing to do is to let the people you are dating know your intentions.
You Lose Sight of Your Goal
If you’ve been online dating for a while, it becomes easy to forget why you got into it in the first place. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself, but if you initially took the time to figure out what you really want, it may be time to reassess how things are going.
You’re Happy To Be Single
Single life isn’t always as awful as it appears. Many people enjoy being alone but feel the social pressure to have a partner or at least be seeking one. If you genuinely enjoy being by yourself, then it may well be time to let go of chasing after something you don’t need.
In conclusion
Whatever your desired outcome with online dating, taking frequent breaks from it is a common recommendation of dating coaches. It provides you with time to reflect on what is really important to you and if the way you online date is meeting your needs. Provided that you are not fine with being single, re-evaluating your time online is likely to bring you closer to your goal of finding the ideal partner.