As thrilling as the first slight breeze in the air is that signifies a change in seasons, it can’t help but simultaneously signal the start of another season… Cuffing Season. A phenomenon that comes around once a year just when we are feeling our summer best. We’ve spent the last season enjoying the small moments and focusing on what we want. But as the leaves change, so does that single feeling from carefree to dreaded fall dreariness of watching our friends in relationships cuddle all over our social feeds. 

For those with significant others, Cuffing Season is just an extension of what’s already been, but for us, singles and inbetweeners, the pressure to not be alone is barreling in. Are we to spend another fall season alone with Gilmore Girls on repeat? 

Maybe. It all depends on our approach. If you’re still unsure of what you want in a relationship, you’re not alone. Many of us are still single and not looking to be cuffed… well, in an emotional sense. Physical, maybe? Don’t let the social Cuffing Season conversations fool you. There’s no reason to hop into a relationship for the sake of going apple-picking. Fall can be a season for figuring out your status. Single, casual relationships, or looking for long-term, the cooler season isn’t only for finding a spoon. 

But how do we discover what we’re looking for?

By riding the ripples of Cuffing Season. With summer ending, eligible daters are heading back to urban areas hoping to enjoy sweater weather. Layering outfits are back and so is layering our calendar with dates. The difference in the approach is going into the dates with yourself in mind, not the hovering expectations of Cuffing Season. We can still get the cuddles in with our FWB if we prefer. 

The fall weather may make others homebodies, but there’s a handle full of daters looking for fun indoor activities, like a date. With working remotely still on the rise, we will all need an excuse to leave our 4 pm darkening apartments. What better excuse than a date? 

Not a date to cuff, but a date for experience. And an excuse for making plans. Even if we aren’t looking for anything serious, a date can get our social skills bubbling. Said date can get us out of the house and lead us to fun, new prospects. Going on dates this season doesn’t have to lead to anything more than we want them to. It simply can be to have someone to text while watching Gilmore Girls on our night alone.

We all know dating apps have been less than ideal these last couple of months, but it may just be everyone’s temporary relocation to Greece and Italy for the summer. Revamped dating app profiles filled with fresh summer pics are on the horizon. It would be a shame to shun the apps before their optimal fall season. We all love an IRL meet-cute, but meeting IRL or on an app is just hard as the other. There are multiple ways to meet dates, and dating apps could be the winning lane for fall. So, don’t say no to dating apps yet.

This season use dating as a tactic for self-discovery, not for cuffing. We don’t have to sit alone at home if we don’t have to. Dates aren’t black and white. Going on a date doesn’t say you’re looking to be emotionally cuffed unless that’s what you’re looking for. They can simply be an excuse to leave your apartment. No shame in that!

Open those apps, and start scrolling for the hell of it. And for those new summer profile pics… We can pretend we went to Greece too! See dating is fun!

For more dating tips, head this way! Need some self-love, try these tricks.