Whether 2025 is the year you’ve decided to prioritise dating or you’re venturing into the world of dating apps for the first time, there’s an interesting phenomenon that happens at this time of year that’s worth bearing in mind when heading to the apps.

Dating Sunday refers to the first Sunday of the year, when dating apps report a significant uptick in activity. Data from Tinder showed that, last year, Swipe activity was nearly 20% higher on Dating Sunday than the rest of 2024, while the number of likes was 15% higher than the rest of the year.

It also found that singles are generally chattier on the app on Dating Sunday, with 20% more messages sent on Tinder than any other day of the year. And the pursuit pays off – on average, Tinder users experience over 10% more matches on the first Sunday of January.

This year, Dating Sunday falls on Sunday 5 January. If you’re looking to increase your matches, it could be a good idea to jump on your dating app (or apps) of choice today. However, it’s important to take a healthy and positive approach to the day.

Vic Paterson, a therapist and anxiety specialist, recommends checking in with yourself before starting to swipe on Dating Sunday.

“We often swipe when stressed, turning dating apps into a coping mechanism,” Paterson says. “Set specific swiping times – and no, 3am anxiety-scrolling while questioning all your life choices isn’t optimal.”

Setting realistic expectations – for yourself and your prospective dates – will help you maintain perspective. “Everyone’s riding that ‘fresh start’ wave, so while the surge in activity means more options, it also means more people panic-swiping because their aunt asked about their love life one too many times over the holidays,” reminds Paterson.

Speaking of, Paterson says not to let the time of year sway your judgement. “Don’t let ‘find love’ become another anxiety-inducing new year’s resolution. Treat Dating Sunday like any other day where you happen to have more options, not the last helicopter out of the disaster zone that is your single life – according to your mother, anyway.”

Paterson also advises sticking to the boundaries you’ve already made for yourself around dating apps – and if you don’t have any, put them in place now. “Create designated app-free times and remember it’s a dating app, not your full-time job. It’s just one day with more active users, not a magical portal to true love. Your perfect match isn’t going to disappear if you take a break to make a cup of tea. In the same vein, don’t treat matches like performance reviews.” People could stop talking for innumerable reasons, so don’t take rejection personally, especially if it’s early on.

Lastly, Paterson stresses the importance of authenticity. “If your idea of ‘loves adventure’ is trying new flavours of crisps, say that. Being genuine beats pretending to like things just to increase your matches. Remember, quality over quantity – it’s dating, not playing Pokémon.”

Images: Adobe