{"id":8811,"date":"2023-11-15T06:14:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T23:14:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8811"},"modified":"2023-11-15T06:14:24","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T23:14:24","slug":"stack-dating-fits-dates-into-your-everyday-routine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8811","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Stack Dating&#8217; Fits Dates into Your Everyday Routine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">F<\/span>irst dates and anxious feelings tend to go hand-in-hand. There\u2019s the pre-date jitters, often followed by the will-they-text after party, which can be a lot to handle when the world is already filled with so much uncertainty and stress. If the angst that comes along with meeting new romantic prospects is taking its toll on your mental health, but you don\u2019t want to stop putting yourself out there or nix your chances at finding love, you may want to try &#8220;stack dating&#8221; (aka date stacking), which is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/discover\/date-stacking-trend\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/discover\/date-stacking-trend\">having a viral moment on TikTok<\/a>.<\/div>\n<p>Essentially, stack dating is the act of adding (hence, \u201cstacking\u201d) a date right onto the existing obligations of your calendar or scheduling back-to-back dates\u2014rather than setting aside a full evening or weekend day for any given date\u2014in an effort to make dating less stressful, explains dating coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.themanfunnel.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.themanfunnel.com\">Megan Weks<\/a>. And it\u2019s gaining ground among Gen Zers: 51 percent of Gen Zers surveyed in the <a href=\"https:\/\/filecache.mediaroom.com\/mr5mr_tinder\/179342\/Copy_of_FOD_Report_2023_FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/filecache.mediaroom.com\/mr5mr_tinder\/179342\/Copy_of_FOD_Report_2023_FINAL.pdf\">2023 Tinder Future of Dating report<\/a> said they\u2019re actively looking for ways to fit dating into their daily schedules, and 32 percent have even gone on a date during their workday.<\/p>\n<p>While packing your calendar with meetups may not seem particularly chill, the idea behind it is actually pretty genius. You see, with traditional dating, you might typically devote an entire evening to one person&#8230; which can feel like a particular waste of time and a big letdown if it doesn\u2019t work out, Weks explains. Stack dating, on the other hand, is all about finding the right person by exploring more potential partners more quickly and fitting low-pressure dates\u2014like a quick coffee after your weekly yoga class\u2014into your existing routine, she says.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThis approach takes the edge off of dating because each date [doesn\u2019t feel like] a big romantic ordeal.\u201d \u2014Megan Weks, dating and relationship coach<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThis approach takes the edge off of dating because each date [doesn\u2019t feel like] a big romantic ordeal,\u201d says Weks. \u201cInstead, you\u2019re finding natural breaks in your day and having a brief meeting to determine if there is enough baseline attraction and conversation chemistry to invest more time into a longer date in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In this way, stack dates are like meet-and-greets to determine if a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/relationship-spark\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/relationship-spark\/\">romantic spark<\/a> may be present. If there\u2019s something there, a second or third date could be a longer, more traditional date, Weks explains. But if not? Then at least you haven\u2019t invested the time, energy, and perhaps money of a full-fledged first date into that ill-fated meeting. Nor have you suffered the opportunity cost of having (re)scheduled your day or night around this person.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/stack-dating\/\" current-title=\"\u2018Stack Dating\u2019 Is Here To Prove You\u2019re Never Too Busy To Find Love (Seriously)\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Javier-Di\u0301ez_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-05-14\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/stack-dating\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/stack-dating\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/stack-dating\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In practice, stack dating might look like having a date during your lunch hour or meeting up for a drink before heading to dinner with friends, says sex therapist <a href=\"https:\/\/sextherapyhawaii.com\/about-dr-janet-brito\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/sextherapyhawaii.com\/about-dr-janet-brito\/\">Janet Brito, PhD<\/a>, founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/thesexualhealthschool.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/thesexualhealthschool.com\/\">The Sexual Health School<\/a>, an online training program for health-care professionals seeking human sexuality training.<\/p>\n<p>Another approach is stacking dates so you\u2019re only meeting potential partners when you know you\u2019ll feel your best. \u201cI saw a TikTok where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@quequeraquel\/video\/7227298849239469354?lang=en&amp;q=stackdating&amp;t=1699381824114\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@quequeraquel\/video\/7227298849239469354?lang=en&amp;q=stackdating&amp;t=1699381824114\">one woman shared<\/a> that she feels completely disinterested in going on dates near the end of her menstrual cycle, so she stacks dates on the weeks when she knows she will feel social and excited to get out of the house,\u201d says Weks. TL;DR? There is really no wrong way to stack date. It\u2019s whatever feels right for you.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Where did this dating trend come from?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>A desire to remove dating as a source of stress is likely what\u2019s driving so many Gen Zers toward stack dating, according to Weks. After all, this is the generation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/young-adult-anxiety-hopelessness\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/young-adult-anxiety-hopelessness\/\">most likely to report negative feelings of stress and anxiety<\/a>. And in taking some of the pressure off scheduling and attending dates, stack dating may help young people to \u201ctake their serenity seriously,\u201d says Weks.<\/p>\n<p>Given that Gen Z is also the generation perhaps <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/generation-z-wellness\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/generation-z-wellness\/\">best known to value authenticity<\/a>\u2014after growing up in the hyper-filtered world of social media\u2014Gen Zers may also be stacking dates to keep things real. When you\u2019re just fitting dates into your everyday life, there\u2019s less risk that you wind up changing any element of yourself while on the dates.<\/p>\n<p>That said, \u201cthis way of dating is not necessarily as fresh as Gen Z may think,\u201d says Weks. \u201cStack dating takes some aspects from the courtship model of how people used to date three or four generations ago, [with primarily] casual meetings, but not in a way that suggests casual sex.\u201d Stacking dates, then, might just be a modern tack for no-fuss dating\u2014or dating in a way that doesn\u2019t involve all the hullabaloo (read: preparation, effort, and energy) with which it\u2019s come to be associated.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What are the pros and cons of stack dating?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>While stack dating may sound pretty great at first blush, it\u2019s certainly not a one-size-fits-all solution; as much as it can serve the schedule and goals of one person, it can also prove mentally and emotionally draining for another.<\/p>\n<p>On the one hand, if you like being spontaneous, you may not love having such a tightly packed schedule, and if you\u2019re introverted, you may be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-be-social-introvert\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/how-to-be-social-introvert\/\">socially exhausted<\/a> by meeting new people back-to-back, says Dr. Brito. But on the other hand, if you\u2019re very busy but still interested in meeting someone, or you tend to feel overwhelmed by dates that feel like a<em> whole thing<\/em>, stack dating may invigorate you.<\/p>\n<p>Not sure if stack dating would work in your favor? Weks and Dr. Brito recommend considering the below pros and cons before jumping into it.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Stack dating pros<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><strong>It stacks the odds in your favor. <\/strong><\/strong>Going on shorter dates means you\u2019ll have time to meet up with more people. And the more people you meet, the higher the chance, statistically speaking, that you\u2019ll click with someone you want to see again. Interfacing with more people can also help you clarify for yourself <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/what-want-from-relationship\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/what-want-from-relationship\/\">what you\u2019re actually looking for in a romantic partner<\/a> (and what you\u2019re not), which can help you avoid wasting time dating folks who don\u2019t fit the bill.<\/li>\n<li><strong><strong>It makes dating less of a <\/strong><strong>production. <\/strong><\/strong>Primping for a date can take forever and be a major source of stress. (<em>What should I wear? Should I get a blow-out?)<\/em> But with a stacked date, you\u2019ll likely already be dressed for whatever else is on the docket for your day. So not only are you saving time on the date itself, but also, you could potentially spare time, energy, and stress ahead of the date, too.<\/li>\n<li><strong>It makes dating more efficient<\/strong>. Though it might not seem like the most romantic thing to pencil dates into your calendar like you would quick meetings, the realities of life can make stacking dates especially functional. Just like you might go on an \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/errand-dates\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/errand-dates\/\">errand date<\/a>\u201d with a friend to get something done while hanging out, you can stack a date into your day to meet a romantic prospect without derailing your schedule.<\/li>\n<li><strong><strong>It can boost your confidence. <\/strong><\/strong>By meeting potential partners more often, you can become a more confident dater, which can, in turn, make dates less stressful.<\/li>\n<li><strong>It makes it easier to date as your authentic self. <\/strong>By coordinating dates around your other commitments (like the gym, work, or lunch with friends), you\u2019re more apt to show up as your natural self\u2014which can help weed out people who aren\u2019t a good match from the jump.<\/li>\n<li><strong>It can keep you from mentally investing too soon. <\/strong>When you\u2019re meeting lots of potential matches or spending less time with a particular person, you\u2019re also less likely to put all your proverbial eggs in a single basket. And by keeping your options open until there\u2019s real traction with one of your dates, there\u2019s a better chance that you\u2019ll wind up dating someone who&#8217;s compatible with you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>It gives you an easy out. <\/strong>No spark? No problem. When you plan for shorter dates and set clear time boundaries<em>, <\/em>it\u2019s easier to make an excuse to leave without worrying about hurt feelings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>It can be fun<\/strong>. Remember, dating is supposed to be a good time! Going on lots of mini-adventures can be more enjoyable than attending fewer lengthier dates, especially if you\u2019re not bringing stress and anxiety along as a third wheel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Stack dating cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>It may lead to dating burnout.<\/strong> If you\u2019re using any downtime in your schedule to stack dates rather than recharge, you may start feeling mentally drained. It\u2019s important to know when you have the energy to orchestrate a date as a part of your routine, and not to over-stack when you&#8217;re feeling run down.<\/li>\n<li><strong><strong>It can cause overwhelm. <\/strong><\/strong>Juggling too many dating prospects at once can make it tough to remember key details and also limit your capacity to deepen any given one of these connections.<\/li>\n<li><strong>It leaves you with less time to spend with matches<\/strong>. When you have back-to-back dates scheduled or have only allotted a short time for a given date, you may feel bummed if you really hit it off with someone and then have to run to your next engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>How to best approach stack dating<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re used to setting aside a full evening or afternoon for a first date, proposing a shorter date can be a total fish-out-of-water moment. In this scenario, it\u2019s important to communicate your desires without making your date feel like they\u2019re just another item on your do-to list.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith anything in life, expressing and setting intentions will pave the way for everyone involved to remain feeling good,\u201d says Weks. To set your date\u2019s expectations, Weks recommends saying something along the lines of: <em>I like to keep initial meetings brief so both people can feel things out before we spend more time together. What do you think? <\/em>This way, you\u2019re expressing how you want things to go and also checking in with your prospective date about how they feel, she says.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cMost daters are concerned about time and the expenses related to dating and are happy to meet briefly until a deeper connection is established.\u201d \u2014Weks<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>While it may feel tough to set such definitive boundaries at first, your date\u2019s response may pleasantly surprise you. \u201cMost daters are concerned about time and the expenses related to dating and are happy to meet briefly until a deeper connection is established,\u201d says Weks.<\/p>\n<p>Reaffirming your boundaries when you first get to the date is also a smart idea. Weks suggests reminding your date of how much time you have upon meeting up. \u201cWithout a reminder, the other person may feel like you\u2019re abruptly cutting things short and take it personally,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re both on the same page, however, a stacked date can be just the thing to establish your connection\u2026 or figure out that you\u2019re not a match and move on, no love (nor much time or energy) lost.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First dates and anxious feelings tend to go hand-in-hand. There\u2019s the pre-date jitters, often followed by the will-they-text after party, which can be a lot to handle when the world is already filled with so much uncertainty and stress. If the angst that comes along with meeting new romantic prospects is taking its toll on &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8812,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8811"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8811\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}