COVID-19 or coronavirus has reshaped the course of the year in pretty much every respect. The economy is in a tailspin, schools all over the country have shut down, and commodities such as masks and hand sanitizer are all but extinct. Even dating—this is where I come in—has been impacted by the coronavirus. You are (or should be) staying home and practicing "social distancing," making Match or Bumble or whatever dating site or app you're on safe bets because you can't contract the coronavirus digitally. But, as we know, when it comes to dating, messaging can only take you so far. 

Dating someone new, you may think, is out of the question these days. When you would ordinarily want to meet a new romantic interest following a quick interaction online—by grabbing a cup of coffee, a drink, or a quick bite—you can't because to do so would mean risking contracting the coronavirus from a stranger. The danger is very, very real. But the current pandemic doesn't mean you need to stop looking for love. The slowdown may ultimately work to your advantage. Here's how.

Reassess your dating goals.

For a while now, the casual dater has dominated online dating, making it more difficult for people with long-term dating goals to achieve them. The coronavirus, therefore, has a much more significant impact on casual daters because they’re the ones more likely to interact with a more substantial number of people in a shorter period. 

I'm not saying there’s anything wrong with casual dating if that's what you're looking to do. However, casual dating is a thorn in the side of individuals in search of more serious or long-term relationships. Now everybody will have the opportunity to reassess the course of their lives while quarantined. What do you want in a match? A partner?

Combat loneliness. 

A defining factor of social distancing and quarantine is, inevitably, loneliness. Despite some individuals who joke about being "antisocial," humans are inherently social, meaning they require at least some form of meaningful interaction with other people. 

Because the quarantine is shaping up to be long-term and all-encompassing, the loneliness will grow for many. An individual may feel alright spending a couple of days by themselves, but as days turn into weeks, and weeks potentially into months, the loneliness may grow unbearable and fast. That loneliness could peck away at even the most casual of daters and make them crave the substance only a long-term relationship could offer. With other singles in the same boat as you, you have a new playing field.

Connect and virtually date while social distancing and quarantining.

Don't hesitate to reach out by sending that email, making that call, and having that conversation. And then another. And another after that. Brush your hair and your teeth and smile for the camera on FaceTime or Zoom. For the time being, you have all the time in the world. Use it for your benefit.

Aside from talking, play games together online. Scrabble. Trivia. Create a book club with each other. Watch movies. Position your cameras, and in your kitchens, cook and eat dinner together. Clink glasses—virtually. The same can go for walks or pretty much any other activity that comes to mind.

Find that dating light at the end of the tunnel.

Eventually, once the quarantine ends, people will venture off into the outside world with a new view of life (hopefully) and the propensity to make positive changes in their lives. Such changes may come in the form of a passionate search for, well, not only passion but romance. And the realization they want and need someone who loves and understands them for longer than an evening.

I'm forever the optimist, and while the situation of the coronavirus pandemic is stressful and scary, I see a silver lining in the changes it can cause. Singles have a unique opportunity to be introspective, to seek more meaningful connections, and when they find a good one, cultivate it slowly. Until the day comes, in the not so distant future, when they can meet and see where that connection leads. And that is something positive to look forward to—together.