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Updated Oct 14, 2024PSA: Dating Sunday, One of the Busiest Days for Dating Apps, Is Almost Here
Here's how to make the most of it.
Photo: Getty Images | miniseries
Get those selfies ready and opening lines prepped, my friends: One of the busiest days for dating apps is almost here. Known as Dating Sunday, the date falls on the first Sunday in January and it's routinely when many dating apps hit their peak traffic. So, if you're looking for a new love in the new year, listen up!
To help you make the most of one of the best days for online dating, we turned to Shan Boodram, the resident sex and relationships expert over at Bumble. Below, see the full deets on Dating Sunday, as well as Boodram's tips for making the most of every swipe. (And how about making it a national holiday next year, huh?)
In this article:
- What Is Dating Sunday?
- Why Is This Typically One of the Busiest Days for Dating Apps?
- Is There a Best Day for Online Dating?
- How to Make the Most of Online Dating
What Is Dating Sunday?
So, what's the deal with Dating Sunday? "'Dating Sunday' is the first Sunday of the new year and has historically been one of the busiest days for the online dating industry," shares Boodram.
"Based on what we've seen in previous years, in general, January is a peak month for engaged conversations on Bumble in the US," Boodram adds.
Just think of it as your January return-to-office—except with online dating. (Yeah... That doesn't actually sound too much better, does it?)
Why Is This Typically One of the Busiest Days for Dating Apps?
There are a few factors at play when it comes to explaining this annual rise in dating app traffic. With most folks finally getting a chance to breathe after the first workweek post-holidays, many begin to reflect on what they want in the new year and start making strides towards whatever goals that may be—such as possibly finding a new partner.
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"This time period has traditionally been a busy season for online dating as people re-emerge from the holidays, set their resolutions and get ready to find a new partner just in time for Valentine's Day," explains Boodram.
However, Bumble data has found that another day of the week sees the most consistent traffic throughout the year. "Enter: Dating Monday," says Boodram.
Is There a Best Day for Online Dating? Cue Dating Monday
According to Boodram and the Bumble team, Monday is the most popular time to swipe year-round, with the app citing peak traffic on the first day of the workweek. "The best day to be on the app post-holiday is Monday, specifically between 7 and 8 p.m.," says Boodram.
So if you're still exhausted from the holidays and those back-to-office team meetings, rest assured you don't have to jump back on an app this very minute. According to my Alexa (who I just asked aloud right now), there are exactly 52 Mondays in 2025—plenty of prime opportunities to start swiping towards your love!
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How to Make the Most of Dating Sunday & Online Dating
Whenever you're ready to download (or re-download) a dating app or freshen up your profile, Boodram has some tips to share. "This new year is a chance for everyone to refresh their approach to dating," she says. "Reflect upon what you enjoyed about dating in the last year—and what you didn't."
Below, see her ideas for maximizing every one of your upcoming Dating Mondays (they are now officially a thing!) and leveling up your online dating presence.
1. Create a "to feel" list rather than a "to be/to have" list.
Instead of focusing on finding a partner who has to be a certain way (such as a specific height or have a certain career), consider how you want them to make you feel. "'To feel' lists include things like, 'I want to feel safe; I want to feel respected; I want to feel protected; I want to feel like the most interesting person in any room when I'm with this person,'" explains Boodram. "Creating this list can help you find and understand what is most important to you outside of physical attributes."
2. Date smarter, not harder.
"Bumble data shows that 1 in 4 (25%) US daters recently surveyed feel short on time and want to make dating as efficient as possible," reports Boodram. Obviously, dating and building relationships can be a time-consuming process—but you can make the most of the time that you do have by taking advantage of helpful dating tools like conversation starters, intimate date nights and even AI.
"Capitalize on Bumble's peak Monday time by using features that help you find more relevant potential partners faster," Boodram says, "like Bumble's Best Bees, which harnesses AI-based [data] on preferences and past matches to give you access to a curated, daily set of four compatible profiles." Think: It's almost like someone doing the swiping for you.
3. Choose quality over quantity.
"Dating doesn't have to be a numbers game," Boodram insists. "In fact, if you want to avoid burnout, it's best that it's not." She suggests spending a bit of time and effort curating your profile and thoughtfully assessing if matches are fit for a date.
In doing so, your energy will be better spent on first dates with matches of higher potential —and hopefully on second and third dates to follow!
