Figuring out how to date during the corona quarantine can be exceptionally hard — harder than usual, even. Travel restrictions, social distancing, and canceled events can make it look impossible, but thankfully, we have technology to fall back on. Now’s the time to get creative!
Those of us who are single especially need to keep making connections. While you’re spending more time than usual chatting with family and friends, you might as well reach out to a hottie or two… or twelve.
But even if you do make a new connection, how do you actually date when you literally can’t leave the house? For a lot of us, dating is a huge part of our social life in general. Can you really keep your dating life moving forward with no physical contact whatsoever?
The answer is, yes — there are definitely ways. If you’re wondering how to date during the corona quarantine, keep reading for the top four things you must do now to keep your dating life from going south during these apocalyptic times. These things may take a little time to master, but hey, you’re under quarantine… you’ve got time, right?
Dating during a time when we can’t leave our homes means you’ll be learning technology that’s possibly new to you. Or even if you are tech-savvy, you’ll be online a lot more. To get up to speed, you’ll need to…
Now is the perfect time to learn how to use dating apps. With access to hundreds, even thousands of women, the possibilities are endless. You just need to use them strategically.
First, I recommend you get yourself on no less than five dating apps if you’re serious about finding a relationship. Just don’t buy premium or upgrades on all five, otherwise, you’ll feel obligated to check them constantly. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Just cast a wide net as there are many dating apps with free messaging.
So which dating apps should you try? It really depends on a few things. If you’re a mature dater, you might look at Silver Singles. If you’re younger and bored with dating apps, check out one of the newer ones like The League or Hinge. Or, look into specialty options like JSwipe or Fitness Singles.
When you join a new dating app or site, you’ll then need to create a profile. This is a whole area I get into with clients in my Signature program (which you can learn more about here!). But generally, you want to make sure you have a couple of things in place:
Killer photos. Make sure your photos are clear, not scary looking, and flattering. Include at least one group shot and maybe one where you’re doing sporty things. Avoid shots where you’re wearing sunglasses, and if nothing else, no Snapchat filters. Oh, also: Remember that you aren’t the best judge of which photos are good. Test them out on Photofeeler first to see which ones get the best responses before putting them in your profile. For some examples take a look at my article on the Best Bumble Pictures and Best Tinder Pics for Guys.
A bio she’ll want to read. Write a bio that engages her, maybe makes her laugh, and describes the most unique parts of you. Don’t be afraid to make fun of yourself. One hilarious profile I saw read: “I know I look like I sell indoor waterfalls in Tennessee…” Cracked me up! As long as you don’t go overboard and sound overly negative, a little self-deprecating humor can catch her eye and make you seem non-threatening. Also, don’t be afraid to be hyper-specific about your personal qualities. You may think you could eliminate potential matches, but it actually draws more of the right women to you. For some great profile examples check out my article on The Best Bumble Bios for Guys.
There’s never been a better time to master the art of messaging, both on dating apps and over text. Now more than ever, your texting game needs to be strong.
In my Signature Program, I teach my clients how to look at a woman’s profile and see exactly what she wants you to talk to her about. Part of this means you’ll need to look at the most emotionally charged parts of her bio. Those would be her family, her favorite things, her hobbies, and her pets. Mention any of those things, and you have a much better chance of getting a response from her.
From there, I teach my clients how to craft an initial message that stands out from the competition and captures her attention, compelling a response. One tip when it comes to that first message: See if you have anything in common (especially in those four areas) and mention it if you can. Use this formula:
Relate
Add Value
Ask a Question
Relate to her first by choosing something you have in common. Add value by saying something that shows you have that in common, and then end with a question.
Here’s a great example: When I mentioned on an old Tinder profile that I loved deep dish pizza, one guy wrote, “Deep dish with ranch at Capos. So good. I used to live in Chicago so I have a bit of a thing for deep dish. Ever try Little Star, Paxti’s, or Grinders?” Perfect.
Once you’ve got her on the line, then you want to master the art of pitching your date. If you remember nothing else, remember this: Always, always use a TDL (time, date, location) when asking for a date.
Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t give you an excuse, by the way. How will you give her a location during a time like this? Easy.
Obviously, when you’re thinking about how to date during the corona quarantine, in-person dates wouldn’t be very responsible. So instead, what I recommend you do is pitch women on virtual video dates. If you use Zoom, you can invite a woman to a Zoom date — and you’ll sound super interesting and creative when you do.
Not only that, but a virtual meetup is a perfect choice for a first date for a few reasons. One, I always recommend spending less than $10 on a first date. Since you don’t know this woman, you don’t want to over-invest your time or money before you make a real connection.
Two, safety is always a big concern for women meeting a stranger on a first date, so if you do a virtual date, she’ll feel right at home… literally.
And three, it’ll be much easier to cut the date off if you guys don’t hit it off. Logging off a computer with a quick goodbye is much smoother than trying to slug a drink down and flag the bartender for the check at a crowded happy hour.
Even if you’ve already been out once or twice before the quarantine situation, virtual dates will still give you a chance to build trust, rapport, and even sexual tension. Social distancing doesn’t stop you from flirting, sharing emotions, or even getting sexy if you’re both in the mood. You could also…
If you don’t like video or get camera shy, fun texting games can still be a great way to get to know each other or forge a deeper connection without getting together in person. Try one of these if you want to spice up your virtual rendezvous, and see The Tech Beard for more:
Would You Rather: Ask each other different versions of the question “Would you rather…” and see what you both come up with. The idea is to make the choices equally compelling (or difficult) and see how the other person resolves it.
A couple of questions you can use on a date might be, Would you rather be in a bad relationship for the rest of your life, or have no partner for the rest of your life?” or “Would you rather take a vacation with your partner or with your best friends?”
Never Have I Ever: Take turns answering the question, “Never have I ever…” If the other person has actually done that thing, they lose a point. You can really reveal a lot of scandalous truths with this one.
Fill in the Blanks: Start a story about yourself and then leave a “blank” in one of the details for the other person to fill.
Virtual dates are definitely the way to go when it comes to dating in this crazy time. Women will be much more receptive to them now that they have limited social time and are feeling lonelier than normal, with no external social outlets aside from phone calls and texts with friends and family.
Once the quarantine ends, of course, everyone will be dying to go out again — maybe making getting dates even easier. And by then, you’ll need to be ready. Book a new client session with me today to find out how you can position yourself for even greater success in dating once everything gets back to normal. And, keep your head up. This, too, shall pass.