Life Advice
/Health
Ghosting is ruthless. So why are we all doing it?
LOS ANGELES -- Alexis Fischer was excited to jump back into the dating world after being single for two years.
The professional dancer-turned-entrepreneur took time to heal from her breakup with her ex-boyfriend of nearly four years. She also wanted to focus on building her business, the Move by Lexfish app, where she teaches virtual Pilates, ...Read more
Ask Anna: Caught in the act? How to bounce back from awkward encounters with parents
Dear Anna,
I've been dating my boyfriend for about six months now. He's at college in Ohio while I'm stuck in our small town in Iowa. We've been trying to make the long-distance thing work and keep the connection and, y'know, the spark. So last night, we were video chatting. With miles between us, things started to get a bit...well, heated, if ...Read more
Why writing an accurate profile is better than creating an interesting one
As anyone who has tried it knows that online dating can have its fair share of challenges … and it all starts with writing your profile. And as someone who has read thousands of bios over the years, believe me when I say that many (very many) people are going about it incorrectly.
Sure, there are the common mistakes: lazy profiles that ...Read more
How to help a friend after a devastating breakup? Your first instinct is wrong
LOS ANGELES — It's hard to know what to do or say when a loved one is in the throes of a devastating breakup. No matter what you try — talking about it, not talking about it, vilifying the ex, coming up with fun distractions — they remain consumed with grief. Is there a right way to ease the pain?
There is, according to experts. Although ...Read more
Ask Anna: Crush or lust? How to decipher your feelings
Dear Anna,
Lately, I've found myself questioning the nature of my attraction toward a new acquaintance of mine. He's charming, always has an interesting story to share, and I can't deny the physical attraction. However, I really can’t tell if this is the beginning of a short-term crush developing, or if I just need to get laid? It’s been a ...Read more
Ask Anna: Redefining the 'player': Classy, honest and empowered dating for women
Dear Anna,
Do female players exist? If so, how do I become one? I want to keep it classy and maintain my integrity while I get out there and experience as much as I can. — Getting Action Makes Excitement Outwardly Novel
Dear GAMEON,
Of course female players exist! (As do players of all genders.) The reason you don’t hear about them as ...Read more
Exclusivity vs. official: What's the difference?
I’ve received a lot of questions in the past six months—more than ever before—asking if there’s a difference between being exclusive with someone and the relationship being “official.” People are also asking, “How long should I wait after being exclusive before being ‘official’?”
The question usually comes from someone who ...Read more
Addicted to swiping right? Lawsuit claims Tinder and Hinge are designed to get users hooked
If you’re swiping on dating apps for hours, you’re not alone — and a new lawsuit claims it’s by design.
Dating apps such as Tinder and Hinge are intentionally addictive, a class-action lawsuit filed in federal court in California on Valentine’s Day claims.
Hidden algorithms push users to stay on the apps and “gamify dating” — ...Read more
Ask Anna: Navigating straight curiosity while in a queer relationship
Dear Anna,
I'm seeking advice about my sexuality and relationship. I'm in a sapphic relationship and while I love my girlfriend deeply and envision a future with her, I can't shake this lingering curiosity about being with men — despite not actually wanting to act on it due to my commitment to my current relationship. As I've only been with ...Read more
Defining the relationship: More of a conversation than a specific milestone
You’ve swiped right, had the first dates and are now “together” with a person. Great! Or is it?
A client recently reached out to me and said, “I’ve been seeing this guy for about a month from Hinge. I’ve met his family already, mine know about him. We’ve met each other’s friends. When is it OK to define the relationship? Do I ...Read more
Erika Ettin: Dating red flags: Signs to watch out for in potential partners
I’ll admit that the term “red flag” is overused today. People are classifying anything from someone’s taste in music (Broadway for me) to their obsession with their dog as a dreaded red flag. While those things might not align with what you’re looking for in a potential partner, are they truly red flags?
As a dating coach, I've seen ...Read more
Ask Anna: Is dating outdated?
Dear Anna,
Is there ever a point where dating doesn't feel futile? By dating, I'm referencing those initial few outings with someone new, not, like, as a stand-in for being in a committed relationship.
It seems like every couple I know of either dove headfirst into couplehood (monogamous or otherwise) practically from the moment they crossed ...Read more
Zoom intimacy and creative sexting: How COVID-19 has changed the way some people have sex
PHILADELPHIA -- When Juan's long-term relationship ended the same day Philadelphia announced its first COVID-19 case and started the citywide shutdown, he knew the isolation to come would be a challenge.
So Juan, 33, created profiles on a handful of dating apps, including Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and OkCupid.
"It was tough because it was the peak...Read more
The 'yours, mine and ours' school of budgeting
“You bought what? And it cost how much?”
Be honest: Have you ever been called out by your spouse for spending too much? Or maybe you’ve been the one to bristle at a fresh batch of shopping bags brought home by your better half?
Bankrate’s latest financial infidelity survey revealed that 30 percent of U.S. adults who are married or ...Read more
What happened to 'Menver'? Denver daters say finding love is getting harder
DENVER — Much to the chagrin of single Denverites, the city’s nationally-recognized nickname, “Menver” — an allusion to the number of available men, ready for relationships — hasn’t withstood the test of time.
One of the earliest mentions of the Menver phenomenon was a 2006 Westword column raving about the male surplus. That still...Read more
Why talking about money is crucial in a relationship
Money is one of the most common sources of conflict in a relationship. So it should come as no surprise that a recent Bankrate survey found that well over one-third (42 percent) of Americans in a relationship have kept a financial secret from their partner.
Keeping money-related secrets, or avoiding talking about money altogether, can lead to ...Read more
Popular Stories
- Can straight married men and women be friends? I went on a quest to find out
- Ask Anna: Navigating the ripple effects of a poly breakup
- She told TikTok she was lonely in LA. What happened next changed her life
- Erika Ettin: 8 places to meet people IRL that aren't dating apps or bars
- Hi, Karen. I mean, Emily. Mixing up names more common than you think