Once You’ve Been Dating Around For A While, It Can Be Hard To Realize That Maybe You Should Take A Step Away

Chip Chick |

Jun 29, 2023

Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only, not the actual person

The following column is the opinion and analysis of the writer, Caiti McGowan.

Once you’ve been dating around for a while, it can be hard to realize that maybe you should take a step out of the dating world. It can be a difficult transition, and you might think that continuing to date is better than the alternative– being alone.

But to prevent wasting your or anyone else’s time, it’s important to recognize when you need to take a break. Here are a few signs that you might need to hit the pause button on dating.

1. You’re Still Not Over Your Ex

If a serious relationship that you were in has ended, it’s important to heal from that on your own before jumping straight back into dating. If loneliness is what’s hitting you hard, make it a point to spend extra time with your friends and family doing the things that you love.

If you get into the dating world while your feelings still lie with someone else, it’s only going to cause hurt to you and others.

2. Dating Feels Like A Chore

News flash: you don’t have to be constantly dating people. If you don’t really want to put in the effort that it takes to go on dates, and you are just doing it so you can tell people that you’re dating around, then this is your sign to take a break from it.

If anyone asks about your dating life, it’s perfectly okay to tell them that you simply don’t have one at the moment!

Halfpoint – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person

3. You Need More Self Love

If you are finding that the only way you feel good about yourself is through validation from the people you go on dates with, then it’s time to dedicate your time to practicing self-love.

If you do the work to become a better version of yourself, you will ultimately be a better partner for the person you do find later on down the road.

This is not to say that you need to be “perfect” before you date someone or that you can’t continue to work on yourself within a relationship, but it’s important to realize where the positive thoughts about yourself are coming from and if you can generate them on your own.

4. It’s Interfering With Your Priorities

If you are in school or are working on your career, and you realize that you are falling behind in some way, determine if it’s because of your dating life.

If the time you spend on getting ready for and going on dates is eating away at the time you could be spending studying or spending quality time with your friends, it might be time to either rearrange your priorities or stop dating for a while.

Remember, it’s okay to take a break from dating every once in a while. The pool will always be there for you to jump back into when you’re ready!

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