Many people are growing tired of dating apps and looking for more natural ways to meet a partner. Relationship coach Amy Chan, speaking to CNBC, shared practical strategies for people who want to build romantic connections offline while reducing the digital fatigue associated with endless swiping.
A 2025 Forbes Health survey found that 78 percent of respondents experience at least occasional emotional, psychological, or even physical fatigue from using dating apps. According to Chan, this sense of burnout has become increasingly common and often prompts people to take extended breaks or delete dating apps altogether.
Let Shared Interests Lead the Way
Chan recommends shifting the focus away from actively searching for dates and toward developing genuine personal interests. She encourages people to participate in activities they truly enjoy, such as sports clubs, creative classes like pottery, language courses, or volunteer projects.
Regularly attending the same activities creates opportunities to encounter familiar faces repeatedly. Over time, casual conversations often become more comfortable and natural, allowing acquaintances to gradually develop into friendships or, in some cases, romantic relationships.
According to Chan, this process is supported by the psychological phenomenon known as the mere exposure effect. The more frequently people encounter someone in everyday settings, the more familiar, comfortable, and appealing that person may become. This gradual process also gives individuals time to determine whether their feelings are based on friendship or romantic attraction.
Face-to-face interaction in familiar environments also provides far more information than an online dating profile. Body language, tone of voice, and behavior across different situations offer a more complete picture of someone’s personality and may reduce the tendency to idealize a stranger based solely on a digital profile.
Surround Yourself With People Focused on Growth
Chan also suggests seeking out communities and events where people are interested in learning and personal development. These might include retreats, themed workshops, discussion groups, or professional networking events that align with an individual’s interests and values.
Platforms such as Meetup and Luma, along with local forums and social media groups, can help people discover these types of gatherings. Participants often attend with an open attitude, ready to meet others, exchange experiences, and invest in their own personal growth.
The coach emphasizes that attending such events solely to find a romantic partner is unlikely to be helpful. Instead, she recommends viewing them as opportunities to expand one’s social circle, gain new experiences, and enjoy the activities themselves.
Approaching social interactions with this mindset can reduce internal pressure and fear of rejection, making conversations feel more genuine. When people are relaxed and engaged in activities they genuinely enjoy, attraction and mutual interest may develop more naturally than during a planned date arranged through an app.
Psychologists also note that healthy relationships often develop between people who share emotional maturity and similar values. Choosing communities that encourage personal growth and self-reflection may therefore increase the likelihood of meeting someone who is prepared for a stable, respectful, and long-term relationship.
