Cuffing Season: Are We Watching Real Life Dating Fade Away?

Every year around this time, the air gets cooler, the days get shorter, and suddenly people start looking for that one person to cozy up with through the cold months. Yep, cuffing season is back.

We’ve joked about it for years, but lately, I’ve been asking myself… does cuffing season even mean the same thing anymore? Or is it just another hashtag we use while real-life dating quietly fades away, becoming this rare, almost extinct experience?

Because let’s be real, the way people connect has completely changed.

When Cuffing Season Actually Meant Something

Back in the day, cuffing season had a natural rhythm to it. You’d meet someone out in the world at a coffee shop, a holiday event, through friends, or even while waiting in line for a cinnamon roll. You know I’m never passing up Cinnaholic, okay?

It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t curated. There wasn’t this weird game of who texts first or how long you should wait before replying. It was two people just vibing in real time, seeing where the connection went. You’d spend cozy nights watching movies, pull up to family dinners together, maybe even have that meet-the-parents moment if things got serious.

It felt organic, intentional, and honestly, kinda magical.

Now We’re Stuck in the Situationship Era

Fast forward to today and dating feels like a never-ending scroll. Apps, DMs, ghosting, breadcrumbing. It’s a lot. There’s this illusion of having endless options, but it actually leaves people feeling more disconnected than ever.

Instead of true connections, we end up with these undefined talking stages that go absolutely nowhere. Someone might text you all day but never plan a real date. You might have deep conversations at 2 AM but no real follow-through. And if they suddenly disappear, they just vanish. No explanation. No accountability. Just poof.

It’s exhausting. And it has definitely watered down what cuffing season used to be about.

The Rare Magic of In-Person Vibes

Here’s the thing, you can’t swipe for real energy.

When you meet someone in person, you feel their vibe instantly. Their laugh, the way they carry themselves, the little things that don’t come through in a photo or a carefully typed message.

That spark when someone offers to walk you home because it’s cold outside, or when you both laugh at the same random joke in a crowded room? That’s unmatched.

But these moments are becoming rare because too many people are comfortable hiding behind screens. It’s easier to stay safe behind a phone than to show up in real life, flaws and all.

How We Bring It Back

If you’re like me and still believe in old-school, face-to-face love, you’ve gotta be intentional about it.

Put yourself out there. Go to that event. Take that class. Show up where people actually are.

Be open to organic connections. Not every first interaction needs to start with, “What’s your Instagram?” Sometimes just saying hello is enough.

Protect your peace. If someone isn’t showing up for you consistently, don’t waste your winter hoping they’ll magically change.

My Truth About Cuffing Season

I’ve learned through my own growth journey that quality beats quantity every single time. Cuffing season isn’t just about having someone. It’s about being open to a connection that feels safe, mutual, and real.

Yes, times have changed. Technology has changed. But our need for true human connection hasn’t gone anywhere.

So this year, I challenge you to unplug a little. Step outside your comfort zone. Give yourself permission to experience love and connection the way it was always meant to be real, raw, and unfiltered.

Because while cuffing season might not look like it used to, there’s still magic out there waiting for you. You just have to show up and feel it for yourself.