Table all those inquiries for a moment because according to dating and relationship coach Clara Artschwager, there’s one thing you should do before anything else when it comes to dating this year: Take a step back. “We often think of ‘working on our dating life’ or pursuing partnership as the actual dating, like swiping and going out and meeting people—but I’m a huge proponent of actually clearing the decks for the first few weeks of January, or even the whole month, and not swiping but actually going back in and recalibrating and reflecting on the past year,” Artschwager tells mbg. During this time of reflection, she says, you can assess what worked and what didn’t in your relationships (or lack thereof) in 2022 and what you’d like to change in 2023. “My one piece of advice is to just give yourself the space to say, ‘OK, I’m not going to swipe, even if it’s a week or two weeks’ time, and I’m going to dedicate myself to taking stock of what things have been like,” she adds. And here’s why it’s so important. But with your newfound clarity, Artschwager says, it can “inform the way you structure your profile or the intention that you bring when you get clear on what you’re seeking.” Then, when you do venture out on some dates, it will be super apparent if your life isn’t aligned with the person sitting across from you at the table. “And yes, [you] could continue to entertain this person and think things are going to change, or you could stick to the intentions and the decisions you made,” Artschwager says, adding, “Giving yourself that breathing room does count as ‘working on your dating life.’”
