86 per cent of Brits say winter is the perfect time to couple up, but over half are considering ditching their partner before Valentine’s Day. Research by Just Eat, sponsors of Love Island, found partners talking about an ex, constantly being on the phone and chewing loudly are the nation’s biggest icks causing uncertainty in relationships.
To ensure Brits don’t let their type on paper slip away, Just Eat asked dating expert and relationship guru, Hayley Quinn, to share her top dating tips and insights to navigate cuffing season coming to a close.
Hayley said: “People tend to stay in existing relationships over the Christmas period, as it's a bad time to break up. However, with New Year's resolutions and Spring in the air, people switch to looking forward to a (hopefully) hot summer of romance, many people are prompted to re-evaluate their partner choice and make a call on whether they've found the one, or whether their relationship has sailed its course.”
WHAT ARE THE SURE FIRE SIGNS IT’S TIME TO RECOUPLE:
- Communication never gets deep - It’s only been three months and they’ve stopped grafting. You’ve tried numerous times to get deep but they’re more interested in scrolling on their phone. This suggests that they’re quietly quitting the relationship and their head has already begun to turn. Friend zone them and find someone who’s engaged, interested and willing to find out more about you.
- Commitment phobe - They refuse to label the relationship and you don’t know where their head is at or if you are about to get pied. If Valentine’s Day hasn’t even been discussed, let alone that summer holiday you wanted to go on, they’re clearly avoiding commitment. If you can’t get a straight answer about what your relationship is, they’re clearly putting their eggs in a number of baskets and you deserve better.
- You don’t really know them - They want to binge boxsets and chill but not much else. Spring is round the corner, and the time to hibernate is over - snuggling up is important, but so is getting out there and experiencing new things together. Don’t get stuck in a sofa cycle, you need to find a partner who matches your vibes and zest for life.
- It’s fun, but that’s it - Without the haze of Christmas party fun you're starting to feel like they’re not actually your type on paper. Your dry January dates were kind of awkward, and now you're scrolling socials to see what other bombshells are potentially out there. If they’re not giving you the flutters, you know what to do.
THE SIGNS THAT YOUR ‘SITUATIONSHIP’ MAY ACTUALLY BE ABOUT TO GET SERIOUS:
- You’re besties - They’ve become your best friend - they pull you for a chat everyday, are there for you on your good and bad days, and keep you informed of every little detail going on in their life. They’re even sending you cute pet memes as they know you love dogs. This is a true connection and the fact that you’re always on their mind shows you are their number one priority.
- Project improvement - Have they hit the gym since you started dating more regularly? Or read that book that you said you liked? They’re putting in the work because they care about the outcome of the relationship. Yes, the old you may have thought that it’s a little cringe and gotten the ick, but actually you want to stick with the person who makes an effort.
- Unapologetically yourself - Whether it’s going au natural on your date, or being open about how gutted you were to not get that promotion at work; you’re happy to share all of you with them - the good, the bad and the ugly!
- No creepin’ - You’ve stopped checking when they were last online or when they viewed your texts and you don’t have any thoughts about what they’re up to or who they’re with. If they’re making you feel secure, wrap yourself in that feeling and keep them close.
Love Island's Tasha and Andrew said: “Whether you’re in the villa or have settled down for cuffing season, it’s hard to tell if the person you’re coupled up with is worth sticking with, or if you should let your head get turned by the new bombshells. It’s so easy to let the good ones get away, that’s why we’ve teamed up with Just Eat to make sure those dating make the right decision.”
