Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck recently tied the knot in Las Vegas, roughly 17 years after they had broken off their first engagement. Meanwhile, Kendall Jenner is reportedly enjoying a relaxing beach vacation with her ex, Devin Booker, in the Hamptons, despite calling it quits a few weeks ago. Closer home, Shershaah stars Siddharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani are also back together, if reports are to be believed.
So, is reconciliation in the air or is re-establishing old connections just easier than finding new romance in the age of dating app fatigue? Well, it’s a little of both.
Rekindling an old relationship is hardly a cakewalk. Despite the familiarity and shared history, couples need to work out the kinks in their relationship and address the issues which drove them apart in the first place. And while every couple is different, there are some modern dating solutions and patterns that can help new-age couples navigate their way through a renewed connection. My Kolkata spotlights the dating trends that are worth exploring if you’re going back to an ex:
Soft (re)launching
The celebrity-approved soft-launching trend is preferred by the likes of Harry Styles, Phoebe Bridgers and Bella Hadid. When you feel good about a new bae or want to go back to an old one, but want to avoid the social media scrutiny or calls from your parents, you can leave discreet breadcrumbs which will subtly indicate that you’re not single — be it a subtle clue in a photo dump or a blurry pic or even a subtweet.
If you’re renewing a connection with a long-time ex, chances are you already have some social media history together. Repost an old picture to test the waters, or if that feels too risky, maybe comment on their posts or share a group photo with both of you in it.
Prioridating
Relationship expert Laurel House devised this term to advise clients to go after a single priority in potential partners. This encourages people to look for the qualities that are important to them, be it their partner’s personality, their family values or their commitment to protecting the environment. It’s a form of mindful dating that can help you recall the side of your ex that you have always cherished or haven’t appreciated enough.
Dry-dating
While tipsy dates have their merits, dry-dating encourages you to stay clear-headed during dates or shared activities, so you can engage with each other meaningfully. According to Bumble (the app just introduced a ‘sober’ badge within the Drinking badge menu), 51 per cent of single Indians would like to explore dry-dating. Moreover, 32 per cent of single Indians feel their relationship with alcohol has changed during the pandemic, which has led them to drink less than before.
If your past relationships have struggled because of your drinking patterns, maybe consider a dry dinner for your first big date. Or try activities which need you to stay sharp, be it gaming, couple’s sports or starting a new diet together.
Hardballing
Despite the aggressive name, this trend can help you avoid the same mistakes you made in your previous relationship. Logan Ury, the director of relationship science at the dating app Hinge, explains, “hardballing is a new dating term that means someone is being clear about their expectations of a relationship, whether you want a serious long-term partnership or a casual fling.”
It’s simply about being focussed on where you’re headed and offers clarity to both partners so you can be on the same page. So, communication is quite key. Even if you’re not looking for something serious and are just looking for a ‘situationship’ with an ex or want to explore something you may have missed, the hardballing approach can help you think straight.