The stretch from Thanksgiving to New Year’s can test a relationship, says relationship expert and author J. Hope Suis. She shared her views in a release from Greenville, South Carolina, on November 17, 2017. In it, she walked through the good and bad sides of the season for couples and singles.
Romance gets a boost first. Citing Brides magazine, Suis noted that most engagements happen between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. December alone accounts for 19 percent of them. Breakups climb as well, though. Several studies show a rise after Halloween that peaks in the twelve days before Christmas, so December 11 to 24 is a risky window.
Do not expect a holiday romance movie to fix things, she warned. In fact, over 33 percent of men and women said a TV show or movie had fed doubts about their relationship.
Singles face their own pressure. About 33 percent of people feel more pushed to find someone during the holidays. Even so, Suis argued that being single at this time of year is not a bad thing. After all, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the season. In one recent study, 60 percent of respondents said they were more likely to hook up during the holidays than at any other time.
For those ready to look, she suggested online dating. More people sign up between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day than in any other period. Users spend an average of 77 minutes a day on Tinder. When snow fell in New York City, Zoosk profile views rose 38 percent, while messages rose 56 percent.
The office party matters too. According to Suis, 25 percent of Americans said an office party led to a sexual relationship. Another 29 percent said it led to a long-term one. Some 16 percent met their spouse or partner at work. Then comes Swipe Sunday, the first Sunday after New Year’s, when the most singles join dating sites. Match.com sees new users jump 42 percent that day.
Suis has more than 20 years of experience with online dating and single parenthood. She coined the term Solitary Refinement for a season of being single while working on oneself. Her writing has run in more than 30 newspapers and blogs. These days she also blogs for Divorce Magazine and DivorceMoms.com. She wrote Mid-Life Joyride, and her book Love in the Single Lane came out that month.
