Modern dating comes with a whole new dictionary of terms, from ghosting and bread crumbing to orbiting and benching, that we need to get our heads around. As we creep into the depths of winter, there’s a phrase we’re hearing a lot more of – cuffing season. Cuffing season takes place during the colder months and it’s a time where single people try to lock down a relationship to make the long slog of winter feel less painful. Winter can be quite a lonely or boring time once the parties are over and we’ve hung up our dancing shoes, so we turn to cuffing, as in hand-cuffing, to fill the gaps. If you’re looking for a winter bae, you may want to familiarise yourself with the 5 stages of cuffing season…
Cuffing season officially starts as soon as bare-leg season ends. The tights are on, the coats are out and your umbrella has replaced your sunglasses as your most-used accessory. The memories of the summer are starting to feel distant and you can’t remember what it feels like to leave work during daylight hours. With Christmas activities and mulled wine on the horizon, you start to think about getting ready to hibernate with someone you can share body heat with.
Your time spent on the dating apps goes up by 99.9% and you’re trying to make eye contact with any hotty that comes your way. You ask you friends to set you up with anyone they know (you’d still rather meet someone the ‘old-fashioned’ way) and you’re starting to think about whether it’s appropriate to amp up the flirting with your work crush.
You’ve been on a few dates and you’ve got a couple of potential cuffing candidates. You need someone who enjoys staying in and snuggling as much as getting wrapped up and going to a Christmas market. Someone who is willing to meet your friends at festive drinks and who will take cute pictures of you sipping on mulled wine. A keen interest in spooning is essential – gotta keep those heating bills as low as possible.
It’s time to lock the winning candidate down. Book in a date to Winter Wonderland, spend a whole weekend on the sofa watching bad Christmas movies and replace the electric blanket with actual body heat. Once the excitement of Christmas is over, get through those evil first months of the year together. Plan in date nights and power through the worst of the cold with blankets and snuggles.
As Valentine’s Day passes, the days start getting longer and the promise of summer is on the horizon; it’s time to cancel or commit. Will your relationship bloom like the flowers of spring? Or will you uncuff yourself to get ready for a summer of self-love? Whether your new relationship is for life, or just for Christmas, try to avoid participating in our least-favourite dating trend – don’t ghost!
