Singletons prioritising their own wellbeing and careers – ahead of finding ‘the one’

Singletons are prioritising their mental well-being, friendships, and careers before settling down. A poll of 2,000 UK singles, who are actively dating, found 45 percent are “smashing the date-triarchy”, and focusing on putting their wellbeing first, rather than seeking out “the one”.

And 31 percent want to put more time and effort into their friendships, while a further 31 percent are keen to do the same with their careers.

More than eight in ten (84 percent) don’t believe there is an age deadline when it comes to finding love, with 74 percent keen to date more selfishly – rather than adhering to the societal milestones expected of them, such as getting married or having children.

The research was commissioned by dating app, Plenty of Fish, to launch its annual dating trends, helping to define the experiences of UK singles.

The brand’s resident dating expert, Eva Gallagher, said: “Our annual dating trends nod to the evolving attitudes and behaviours of singles – which are heavily influenced by society and popular culture.

“We’re seeing a positive movement towards singles acknowledging their self-worth, prioritising their own wants and needs, and never accepting less than they deserve – which is what we firmly believe in.

“Dating should be fun and low pressure, and we hope that next year, singles will continue to enjoy the journey when looking for love and setting their dating goals.”

Despite this mindset, dating is still on the cards, as 39 percent are keen to meet more like-minded people, and 36 percent are looking for fun without any added pressures.

And while 53 percent are set on being in a long-term relationship, 59 percent are “contra-dating”, and being more open-minded by dating outside of their usual “type”.

Exactly a third admit past relationships with people they typically go for haven’t ever worked out for them – and 36 percent are actively trying to move away from the concept entirely.

More than three-quarters (77 percent) admit to “investi-dating”, having previously done their homework on a potential match via social media – for either themselves or a friend – before meeting in person.

Reasons for doing this include wanting to check they are who they say they are (48 percent), while 33 percent like to have a greater insight of the person before going on the date.

When planning for the meet-up, 77 percent have mastered “groundhog day-ting”, and like to always meet somewhere familiar as it takes away the stress (33 percent), but also gives peace of mind when the bill comes, amid the cost-of-living crisis (31 percent).

Thinking about previous failed relationships, 45 percent admit to staying with someone due to the fear of starting over (F.O.S.O), while 44 percent were simply too comfortable to end it.

However, an incredible 21 percent have even stayed “pet-rothed” to a partner – because they became too attached to the cat, dog, or fish.

Nearly half of those who have done this (44 percent) claimed the prospect of life without the animal made them feel more heartbroken than it would without their partner.

And 32 percent simply didn’t want to say goodbye to their co-parenting pet duties, according to the OnePoll.com data.

Looking ahead at dating for 2024, 47 percent believe always being true to themselves, knowing their self-worth (45 percent), and taking an approach to dating that suits them and their goals (24 percent), are more important than ever.

In light of the findings, Plenty of Fish has partnered with Channel 4’s Married at First Sight UK star, Sophie Brown, to offer singles relatable advice among the evolving dating landscape.

Sophie said: “The world of dating can be both exciting and tricky to navigate, and it goes without saying that dating looks entirely different now to how it did 10 years ago.

“While my experience of being matchmade by experts didn’t work out in the long run, it really opened my eyes to just how quickly societal and cultural trends can cause us to switch up our dating behaviours.

“As someone who prioritises their career and personal life alongside finding love, I can relate to these dating trends, and I hope my tips are helpful for those who, like me, are looking to rip up the dating rule book in 2024.”