When I first heard the term “tiny relationships”, I thought that was just a fling. Turns out it’s not: the definition of tiny relationships is the casual bonds we form with strangers or acquaintances. Think of your neighbours, the people who work at your local shops, your post, and some work colleagues from a different
Introduction It’s an annoyingly persistent stereotype which suggests that everyone hates their in-laws. The holiday period in particular may bring these tensions up, and winter in general isn’t the best time for many people’s mental health. Add an argument about whether saying “happy holidays” or “merry Christmas” is better, and a fair amount of alcohol,
We struggle with and enjoy our bodies. The wrinkles on our faces are remnants of our worries, our worries about the future, and our joys as we reminisce on a loved one lost, or the marks on our bodies from carrying children. We move through the world using our bodies as containers. They provide a
Introduction Online dating. Loved by some, loathed by others. Apps like Tinder, Grindr, Bumble and Zoosk changed the way people meet and relate and moved romance in a very different direction. We might not want to tell our grandchildren that we met online, but if we want to have grandchildren it may be necessary. One
After a long time together, it can be normal to have less sex with your partner. But if you’ve become sexless in your relationship, it might have more to do with the relationship than the sex. In many cases, sexless relationships are symptoms, not the underlying cause. There are so many reasons why a relationship
Sometimes, dating apps do weird things to try and attract new users. Remember finding matches by reviewing memes, or additions on your profile where you could talk about your favourite Friends episode for two minutes? Sure, new apps need a way to stand out, but let’s be honest, most of their initiatives are awful. That’s
Breakups suck. I remember being dumped at 17 and looking around my college canteen, wondering if anyone had ever been so miserable. All I thought about was my ex and what had gone wrong. Extreme melodrama aside, I think most people will confidently say that they don’t enjoy the tumult of breakups, the awkward “let’s
In September, The Atlantic published an article called “Technology Can Make Your Relationships Shallower”, written by a man called Arthur C Brooks. I think I speak for all of us when I say Okay, Boomer. Brooks starts by citing a study done in 1998 about internet usage in communal living spaces. As someone born in
Experts are going to disagree on the most important thing in a relationship. Is it affection, love, respect, a shared sense of humour, complimentary values, support, or chemistry? I would argue that all of these are necessary, plus a little bit of magic and the ability to sometimes not tell someone they’re turning into their
The idea that women aren’t attracted to nice guys is one of the most infuriating and sexist myths around. On the surface, it seems like the kind of thing someone would whine about after being turned down – “how could she do this to me, I was so nice to her”, as though an actually
