When it comes to the world of dating, it’s been quite the year. From dating app fatigue to navigating beige flags and situationships, the sheer chaos of dating has left many of us feeling pretty exhausted with the prospect. But new research conducted by Bumble found that dating in 2024 could tell a different story.

The dating app uncovered several dating trends that it has predicted will be ones to watch out for next year, with 2024 set to be the year of ‘self’ in dating and relationships as more people look inwards at what they value and want. One trend Bumble has noted will be significant for many women is one its dubbed the timeline decline.

Women continue to feel a constant pressure to follow traditional relationship timelines, which is something Stylist found in its own research – powered by our new insight agency Think Stylist. The research found that 87% of women are feeling time pressure to achieve everything they want in life, with a further 37% feeling as though they need to ‘have it all’.

However, Bumble found that there’s been a decline of timelines in favour of women choosing to actively build their own path.

One in three women said they’re no longer focused on adhering to traditional timelines and milestones, and for nearly a third (31%), this means only dating people who have the same perspective on timelines and milestones.

Bumble’s sex and relationships expert Dr Caroline West tells Stylist that more women are now divesting from these traditional milestones and stereotypical ideals of womanhood. “More women are placing themselves at the centre of their lives in such a radical way – from re-evaluating if and when they want to become mothers to their relationships with work.”

And this includes how many of us are now approaching our dating lives, too.

“Being single is not the end of the world. And this mindset, for many women, opens up opportunities, allowing them time and energy to pour into other areas of their lives rather than the traditional milestone expectations like marriage and kids,” Dr West adds.

Dr West also explains that by unsubscribing from traditional timelines, women are becoming more fluid in how they date – making the overall experience much more pleasurable.

“If you’re no longer limited by the idea that you have to be married with two kids by the time you’re 30, then life’s opportunities have opened up. Instead, you could choose to spend a year in a new city or date someone unexpected. These are the experiences that can help shape life in new and interesting ways as well as help inform your criteria for future relationships.”

Image: Getty