Dating in 2026

Rachel Hawley-Thomas

rachel.gabsbitesizeblogs@gmail.com

Dating in 2026

What a load of BS!

I’ve been single for about 8 months and although it’s fun for most of the time, I do miss being in that partnership with someone.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the things being single brings to the table: I don’t answer to anyone, and I can do what I want when I want. That’s nice but I’m not very good on my own, maybe that’s because I’ve always been in a relationship.

Back in 2003 when I was 16 dating seemed simple, this is how most of my conversations went:

Him: Hey you’re cute

Me: Hey you’re cute too

Him: Will you be my girlfriend?

Me: yes

Simple, yes? So many of those boyfriends didn’t last long, but a few stuck for more than a few months. In fact, that’s how me and my ex-husband got together, and we were together for 13 years in the end. But now in 2026 there seems to be so many labels for what is traditionally called dating.

Situationship

Hookup

Friends with Benefits (FWB)

Flirtationship

Talking

Dating

Committed/Exclusive

Boyfriend / Girlfriend

How is anyone meant to keep up?

Then you add the dating apps into the mix, like Hinge, Tinder, Bumble just to name a few, and you put yourself out there for the world to see, and you swipe and swipe and maybe get a date out of it but most of the time nothing comes from it.

So why do we do it? Why do we put ourselves through the emotional torture of it all?

For most women it’s because we get a dopamine rush from matching with someone, it feels like we are being chosen and deep down that’s all a woman wants to feel: being chosen and being loved. But when we get ghosted or unmatched because we won’t "put out" on the first date it hurts all over again, but we still do it in the hopes of finding our soul mate.

So, I tried the dating apps, I’ve been on a couple of dates, I’ve talked for weeks with guys and here I am still single. But you know what, I’m not mad, because I know my worth and I know the universe has got my back, and I am a very firm believer that what is meant to be will be. And if I’m meant to be single for a while, I will deal with my emotions that arise from that and enjoy my single unfiltered life for a while. But don’t get me wrong a good snog once and while wouldn't hurt lol x