The landscape of dating has changed dramatically since the coming in of online platforms and apps. Today, you don’t have to pester a friend to set you up or frequent the local bars and clubs in the hope of meeting someone interesting. With online dating, you can find your significant other without so much as moving from your couch.
It also opens up possibilities of connecting with people from anywhere in the world. However, finding someone who lives in your vicinity is always a better idea than starting up things with a person half-way across the globe.
Here’s why keeping it local rules the roost even in the times of online dating:
1. It’s Practical
Connecting with someone who lives in the same area as you makes the dating ballgame more practical. You can meet up every other day. Just set the time and show up. No need for elaborate arrangements, freeing up your schedule, setting up a travel savings fund and so on. If you’re just about venturing into the online dating sphere, filtering your preference to local matches only is one of the tips for online dating profile to hold on to.
2. It’s Emotionally Sustainable
Long distance relationships can seem like a lot of work even in that initial ‘rainbows-and-roses’ phase. When the person you’re with is not in the same city, building a bond becomes that much harder. Besides, there is this constant sense of longing and loneliness that can take a toll on your emotional health. You can eliminate long distance relationships all together by signing up on localised online dating sites.
3. You Have a Lot more in Common
When you date someone who lives in the same place as you, you can find more common ground to connect over. You both have the same cultural references, you grew up watching same shows, and you know the local artists, festivals, social norms and so on. For example, if you meet a local on a Leeds dating site, the chances of you both feeling equally passionately about the Leeds Festival or Leeds United are a lot higher than with someone from Chicago or Frankfurt.
4. It’s Easier to Take the Next Step
If things go well, taking the next step in your relationship won’t require at least one of you to uproot their life and move to a completely new city, country or continent. In long distance relationships facilitated by online dating, this often proves to be a deal breaker.
5. Proximity Breeds Intimacy
Being in the same city gives you and your partner better odds of getting to know each other well and keeps the spark alive. With physical distance, the magic and romance can wither off quickly, and incidence of cheating is higher.
Whether you’re looking at something long-term or just a casual fling, keeping it local is always the saner choice. You can do it with online dating too. All you’ve got to do is look in the right places.
