How to date during social distancing

Fox 4 is checking in with a relationship expert for tips on how to find your person while social distancing.

LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP YOU,AND ALL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA,REBOUND FROM THIS CRISIS.WE’VE SPENT SOME TIME TALKINGABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC HASCHANGED RELATIONSHIPS.

EXPERTSEXPECT A RISE IN DIVORCE.MEANWHILE, SOME COUPLES AREGETTING CLOSER.

BUT WHAT ABOUTIF YOU’RE SINGLE DURIQUARANTINE?

IS THERE A WAY TOSTILL FIND YOUR PERSON... EVENIF WE HAVE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE?20-26:56-102:ALLISON "i am quarantiningalone" 1 secBUT REALLY, ALLISON *ISN’TALONE.

DATA SHOWS 51 PERCENT OFPEOPLE IN OUR STATE ARE SINGLE.MEANING *A LOT* OF PEOPLE ARE INTHE SAME BOAT SHE IS.[Duration:0:05] <ALLISON"There’s been a lot of Netflix.I’ve read like five books.

ButI’ve spent a lot of time on myphone" 5 secLISA/ALLISON "have you beendoing anything in the way ofdating or dating apps since thiswhole thing started?" I’ve beenon the dating apps for the lastcouple weeks just kind of tryingto talk with people and engagewith people" 10 secALICIA "is a very human thingthat we want to do is thatconnection," 3 secAND RELATIONSHIP EXPERT ALICIAALLEN SAYS IF *YOU ARE TRYING TOBE SOCIAL DURING THIS TIME OFSOCIAL DISTANCING -- IN ADDITIONTO DATING APPS, THERE’S ALWAYSSOCIAL MEDIA.ALLEN "There are also Facebookgroups that are popping upthings like that" 4 secA QUICK SEARCH ON FACEBOOK, ANDI FOUND TWO.I KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE AFRAID OFMEETING SOMEONE ONLINE.

BUTALLEN SAYS THERE ARE SOME PERKSTO HAVING YOUR FIRST DATE OVER ACOMPUTER SCREEN, INSTEAD OF ACUP OF COFFEE.ALLEN "when you get to knowsomeone, especially under thiskind of situation, you’regetting to see how they dealwith stress and a stressfulsituation" 8 secBY CHATTING ON VIDEO CHAT LIKEWE ARE, SHE SAYS YOU CAN GET TOKNOW SOMEONE ON A DEEPER LEVEL."we’ll do the video chat but youknow what, I’m not gonna likeput on a full makeup or get outmy you know, best outfit right?It’s more authentic.

A lot ofpressures are off " 10 secSHE SAYS INCLUDING PRESSURES TOBE PHYSICAL TOO QUICKLY.ALLISON "I enjoy that it’s moretalking and getting to know eachother.

There’s not a lot ofpressure for anything else" 5SECSTILL -- MAYBE YOU’RE DEAD SETON MEETING SOMEONE THE OLDFASHIONED WAY.

BUT WITH BARS ANDTYPICAL PLACES TO MEET SINGLESCLOSED, AND RESTAURANTS ATLIMITED CAPACITY...LISA/ALICIA "How do you meetsomeone or approach them whenyou have to stay six feetapart?" "my mind goesimmediately to the old schoolcourting system, right?

So it’sreally about connecting with aperson from a distance right?Making it eye contact beingaware of your facial expressionsthat you are communicating, Hey,you know what you I’m open to,you know, meeting you" 23 secAND THEN, THERE’S SOCIALDISTANCING DATES.ALLISON/LISA "When we werewalking past this huge grassyarea people had huge picnicblankets set up and they werehaving quarantine dates six feetapart" "is that something ywould consider if you met theright person to do that with?""I think so, yeah" 13 secNO MATTER *HOW YOU DECIDE TOMOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR LOVELIFE, ALLEN HAS A FEW TIPS.DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF YOUREXPECTATIONS, GOALS, OR VALUES.BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND ANYPOTENTIAL PARTNERS.KEEP AN EYE ON DEPRESSION,LONELINESS, OR ANXIETY -- THAT’SNOT THE FOUNDATION OF A GOODRELATIONSHIP.AND REMEMBER -- THIS IS ONLYTEMPORARY.ALICIA ALLEN "human connectionis really important.

This isn’a substitution.

This iswonderful, good enough solutionfor right now"8 secALLEN SAYS A LOT OF HER CLIENTSWHO ARE SINGLE, ARE REACHING OUTTO EXES TO REKINDLE THAT FLAME.BUT, SHE ALSO SAYS IF YOU’REFEELING LONELY OR DEPRESSED,