Dating Trends Such As Guard Railing & Love-Life Balance Are Here To Stay In The Year 2023

The way people date has definitely changed in today's world. Not only have people become much more aware of what they are looking for when it comes to dating, but they also know what their non-negotiables are.

So, now that dating prospects have gotten much better thanks to dating apps and various other means to bring people closer to one another, understanding what one needs when dating is quite important.

This is when two new dating terms called guard railing and love-life balance came into existence.

What is a guard railing?

After the rise of mental health disorders during the COVID-19 period and people giving it much more importance than before, they have realised what works for them and what does not. Every person has a certain kind of boundary and certain non-negotiables when it comes to dating. While many ignore it a lot of the time just to accommodate what their partner wants, many don't think having boundaries is as important as it should be. But starting in 2022, people have started realising how necessary it is to establish boundaries and that they are prioritising them much more than ever.

Even Bumble has surveyed about this, stating that people are taking control of how they should feel emotionally, mentally, and physically when dating. They are not exhausting themselves and overwhelming themselves by accepting what does not work for them on every front. Daters have also understood that there is no point in overcommitting socially, and putting oneself out there needs to be more of a thoughtful process.

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How do you set boundaries effectively in relationships?

Setting boundaries in a relationship is quite important since it can keep one away from a lot of stress and mental burden in life. Here are some ways in which one can set boundaries in a relationship without really being rude or hurtful about them:

Having honesty in regard to what you need

While not having to hurt someone's feelings or fearing how your partner will react to your needs is a legitimate matter to think about, letting your partner know clearly what you want early in the relationship sets the tone for it in the long run. Being honest about what individually works for you and what makes you uncomfortable can help your partner understand you much better.

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Listen to your partner

Relationships are a two-way street, and while your partner should definitely know what you want, you too should listen and acknowledge what your partner has in mind. Sure, some things may definitely not work for you; you can talk about them. But understanding where your partner is coming from is a way to communicate and make the bond much better. Even if it comes to dating.

Let your partner know when you need space through proper communication

There are different attachment styles, and it surely depends from person to person what their attachment style is. So, when one of the partners needs space and things get overwhelming, it can leave their partner worried or rather confused as to what is going on. So, clear communication stating when a partner is overwhelmed and needs space can help maintain balance.

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What is love-life Balance?

When it comes to prioritising, people are also doing the same when it comes to themselves. For years now, prioritising work culture and adding extra hours to the office have been considered matters of status. But now, people are slowly realising that all the job titles are not everything. Bumble, too, had conducted a survey saying that 54% of people globally care more about their work-life balance than their career status. Not just that, over 52% of people mentioned creating more space for rest and breaks in between their office hours.

In 2023, people will relax about the importance of self-care and prioritise their loved ones over everything that may give them stress. Here is how one can create a love-life balance:

Don't get very clingy

While taking time out from work for yourself and your loved ones is a great way to feel good, too much of it may seem a little clingy to your partner. As per a study by Science Direct titled 'Six "red flags" in relationships: From being dangerous to gross and being apathetic to unmotivated' it was noted that clinginess is surely a bad idea in romantic relationships, and one can come off as too much with that. So, while understanding space for yourself and your partner is a great idea, too much of it can become a bad thing.

Definitely be your own person

While spending time with your partner may be a great thing, too much of it can sometimes make you forget what you like and who you are as an individual. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology mentioned how, in romantic relationships, partners tend to spend a lot of time, and their personalities tend to blend in. This could mean having the same choices and even acting or liking the same things as your partner. It could get so much that sometimes you may lose yourself.

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When one thinks about how the dating game has changed, it mostly means that people have now realised how important it is to take care of themselves and emphasise how important their relationships are.