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Dating is a bit of a double-edged sword.
It can be either incredibly fun and make you feel on top of the world, or it can bring on the lowest of lows and make you feel like you *never* want to date again.
Sound familiar?
With this combination of highs and lows, it’s not surprising that most of us find dating to be downright emotionally exhausting.
Whether we meet people organically, online, or through friends, we’re bound to experience dating burnout at some point where we feel ’emotionally unavailable.’
Fortunately, there are a few tips you can utilize to keep dating burnout at bay so you can put your best self out there, while also preserving your sanity.
Learn how to handle dating burnout with these tips.
5 Ways to Handle Dating Burnout
1. Give yourself adequate time between dates. One way to avoid dating burnout is to give yourself ample time in between dates. Don’t over-schedule yourself by putting back-to-back dates on the same day or even on consecutive days. If possible, give yourself a few days in between, or even a week! Dating can be emotionally exhausting, and if you let dates become the primary focus of your life, they can easily overshadow what’s really important in your life. Plus, when you have enough time to regroup and refresh in between dates, you will be far more able to actually be in the present moment when you’re on the date.
2. Keep your dating in the background of your own life. As I mentioned earlier, when you let dating become the highlight of your life, it will soon overshadow the rest of your life. Don’t let this happen, and keep living your life. While romantic relationships are important, they’re only a piece of the puzzle when it comes to your life. Continue to pursue your hobbies, your career, and whatever brings you joy.
3. Don’t neglect the other relationships in your life. When you get into a routine of dating, it can be tempting to put your other tried-and-true relationships on the back burner. Don’t let this happen, and continue to invest in those important relationships in your life, such as the ones you have with your friends, your family, your mentor, etc. At the end of the day, these are the relationships that are here to stay.
4. Delay the ‘yes.’ When someone you’re interested in asks to meet up for a date, it can be tempting to respond with a ‘yes’ right then and there. However, it’s not a bad idea to delay your response, even if you plan on saying yes to them. Tell them you’ll check your calendar first, and schedule it in when the time suits you – not just because you feel the pressure to say yes right away, and not because you happen to be free that very evening. Accepting every invitation that comes your way can bring on unnecessary stress; however, by delaying the ‘yes,’ this will help to avoid any potential dating burnout.
5. Find ways to reconnect with yourself. When dating other people, a common feeling that often arises is that of ‘losing’ ourselves in the process. It’s not surprising that we may feel this way. Dating other people and learning more about them can lead to information overload and eventual burnout from dating. To avoid this, find ways to reconnect with yourself. Besides giving yourself ample time in between dates, indulge yourself with activities that ground you and remind you of who you really are. Read a self-help book. Visit a museum. Write. Paint. Do whatever makes you feel most happy and most like yourself.
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