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As the days get shorter and the nights grow colder, plenty of people start coupling up to weather the cold winter months. On this episode of Swoon, Julie and Gina discuss cuffing season and how to navigate dating and romance in the age of COVID.

This episode covers:

• What is Cuffing Season?
• What are the pros and cons of getting cuffed?
• What if you want to find a long term relationship right now?
• How can I enjoy the newness of a relationship without getting caught up in a fantasy?
• How do you flirt during a pandemic?
• How to share your pandemic dating boundaries.

Memorable quotes

“We love hearing that you love hearing us!”

“The objective is to find someone to snuggle up with rather than find someone to create a life with.”

“It's like a temporary long term relationship.”

“There's nothing wrong with finding someone to get through the cold winter months with. That's not a bad thing. As long as everyone is being as intentional and honest as possible.”

“It's very easy to create projections about who we think someone is or who we want them to be.”

“If you are getting all the good chemical rushes of a brand new relationship surging through your system...If you are having the flirtation and the good flushes and maybe the good orgasms...If you are having all of that yummy good energy THIS YEAR. I'd say go ahead and take a good swim in that good energy.”

“We are being put on the spot to have clearer conversations up front.”

“Let's just name that it's awkward and weird and nobody has practice dating during a pandemic”

Resources from the Podcast

Swoon Episode: You Can't Hurry Love: Dating in Real Life

Swoon Episode: Dating during a pandemic

New York Heath Department Safer Sex and COVID-19

Action Steps

Do some personal introspection to get clear about what you really want in terms of dating or a relationship. Then starting making choices that are in alignment with that.

Get support

Looking for coaching? Connect with Gina

Looking for a therapist in Oregon? Connect with Julie

Looking for other therapeutic support? Check out TherapyDen

Your Swoon hosts

Gina Senarighi, MS, MA, CPC is a sexuality counselor and communication consultant specializing in healthy boundaries, passionate relationships, jealousy, and infidelity. She supports non-traditional couples all over the world as a retreat leader and certified relationship coach.
Connect with Gina

Julie Jeske, LPC is a sex and relationship counselor. She has a private practice where she helps clients increase intimacy, ignite passion and deepen their connection to themselves and others. Julie especially loves to help women discover who they are sexually. Through counseling, online classes, or in-person retreats; her clients learn how to talk about their sexual and relationship desires, and explore ways to make them a reality.
Connect with Julie