Everything You Need to Know about Cuffing Season

The foliage is starting to show its palette of beautiful colors. Leaves are falling, and so are temperatures. Pumpkin Spice Latte season is here to help us keep warm. This time of year makes me want to cozy up with that special someone next to a fireplace while dressed in snug home attire. Getting comfortable with a good book or binge-watching a Netflix series are some of our favorite pastimes between October and Springtime.  The security of your guy or girl keeping you company is a completely normal feeling. But what happens when you are single and not paired up with anyone during the winter months?

Do you go about your business, happily in solitude, or nab a partner for the short interval? The answer to this question depends on who you ask. Plenty of men and women take pleasure in their “me” time. Others like to take up temporary real estate in a partner’s arms until flowers bloom.

Cuffing Season has arrived, if you are not in the know, this is the time when people look to couple up to get them through the chilly winter months.

Summertime is a great period for romantic flings. Singles are out and about, not only getting Vitamin D but spreading their social wings. October comes around, the days get shorter and nights colder.  Some people are greatly affected by the changes, triggering loneliness or depression. The upcoming festivities put pressure on those who receive invitations in the mail. Holiday office parties, family get-togethers, and friends asking, who will you bring to the next event. Showing up without a plus one at social gatherings has the potential to make people feel sad, hounded, or inadequate. One quick fix is to find brief relationships that fill the void for the moment. There will be a handful to stand the test of time but it’s not the intended purpose of a cuffing partner. Dating apps report an increase in activity around these months. Online sites such as Bumble and Hinge benefit from singles wanting to find their bae before yuletide.

These short-term partnerships have advantages and disadvantages. It’s nice to have a cuddle partner when the temperatures start descending. Being on the receiving end of affection is good for our health. Cuddling is great for relieving stress, lowering blood pressure, and giving us the warm fuzzies! Humans thrive from connection, it can relieve anxiety and depression, too. Our moods generally improve when we feel cared for, and hugs have the power to boost our level of happiness. Besides, denying the feel-good effect of an embrace is hard to do.

Seasonal relationships also have a downside. The lines of commitment can get blurred. The flings are not full of promise, therefore, investing in emotion and dreaming up a future is not the goal. It is an arrangement offering a convenient solution to spending all your time alone. Winters can be brutal and having a warm body to share the couch is enticing for some of us. No judgment, different things work for different people. However, I would refrain from taking a cuffing buddy and trying to turn him or her into a forever. Of course, you and your sweetie can survive the cuffing season. Anything can happen when it comes to a love connection but it would take effort on both sides, as well as, a desire to continue getting to know each other.  Honestly, I do not suggest using this type of linking up, as a way of seeking a healthy, stable relationship. Disappointment happens more often than not when partners’ expectations do not match up. How will you know? A conversation should take place to check each other’s expectations. Ignoring the talk can result in heartbreak or regret if the relationship goes wrong.

Navigating these relationships is possible, as long as you set boundaries for yourself and the chosen one. Setting basic guidelines protects both parties’ feelings. It helps to avoid an implosion when Spring comes around. It is smart to set the rules of attachment because exclusivity is not necessarily, a perk of this kind of partnership. Make sure to check in with yourself, and spend time with family and friends while continuing to enjoy independence. Assuming he is devoted to only you,  the affair is destined for the long haul, and holidays with his parents are happening are all thoughts that can be dangerous, unless you are both on that wavelength.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying company during cuffing season.  Having everyone on board with the terms of the tie-up is critical. The ideal way to go into your arrangement is with full transparency and eyes wide open! Societal norms convince people to believe the only way to have romantic relationships is to abide by the conventional or monogamous standards set by the mainstream. The reality of life has much more contrast because the world is made up of millions of people who hold different ideologies, values, and desires.

If you are considering participating in cuffing season, do so responsibly, aware, and with limits in place. Be open to the possibilities that each moment can bring while savoring human connection.

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