The summer months bring out the best in us, and that's one of the reasons dating is so much better in the heat.
We often lose our sense of community when we hibernate in the winter.
Many of us don't know our neighbors, we stay indoors, hide behind our phones and get validation from Tinder matches instead of meeting people in person. The summer changes all of that.
When the sun is out, the world feels brighter and so do our moods. The beautiful weather makes us want to leave our house, show off our sexy clothes, go on adventures with people and see what the community as a whole is up to.
Summer is when there's a ton of social gatherings, opportunities for new adventures and chances to get involved with your community.
Here are seven reasons the summer is the best time to date:
1. You know you're a priority
There's so much going on in the summer and, because of that, you know you're his priority if he's choosing to spend his free time with you.
It's not like during cuffing season when the outside world is cold and boring and you feel as though you may just be attached at the hip because you're both great time-fillers -- or because one of you has a really great fireplace.
If a guy is spending time with you in the summer, it's not because he's bored with nothing else to do.
It's more likely that he genuinely likes spending time with you, even though there's a whole host of other options when it comes to how he could spend his summer days.
If he wanted to be on the go without you, he definitely could do that.
2. You feel sexier in the summer
Most of us just feel sexier and more confident in the summer.
It's not just because we're all wearing less clothing and showing more skin. It's because our sun-kissed skin, sexy beach hair and feminine sundresses make us feel beautiful – and that makes us want to go out on more dates.
A summer glow looks fantastic on everyone, and the sun gives us a renewed energy that makes us feel ready to get off our phones and get out into the real world instead.
3. Date ideas are easier to come up with in the summer
Dates are just better in the summer because there's so much more you can do with that special someone.
We can't justify the date-night-in as much when it's gorgeous and hot out.
We know that in the winter, the lack of natural light makes us feel tired and lethargic, and we don't want to go outside when it's cold, so we might actually put up with "Netflix and Chill."
In the summer, however, we recognize significantly more opportunities to go on "SuperDates" instead of ordering in.
These fun summer SuperDates can be paddleboarding together, a boat ride at sunset, camping under the stars, hitting up a farmer's market or an afternoon of mini-golf in the sunshine.
The options are endless when it comes to date ideas during the summer months.
4. You're less clingy
Nobody wants to be handcuffed to someone in the summer -- you just want to roam free. And since there's so much going on when it comes to social functions, you're naturally going to be less clingy with whomever you're dating.
It won't seem like your world revolves around him because every other day you'll have some event you need to go to -- and he won't always be invited.
It's not attractive to be needy or clingy, we all know that; we just have a harder time being independent in the winter for some reason.
I definitely find that being clingy is a bad habit I'm guilty of when I date during cuffing season.
5. You're more spontaneous and adventurous
In the summer, you're at liberty to be as adventurous and spontaneous as you want because there are so many opportunities to be.
You can create special memories and bond with someone by taking off together on a last-minute summer road trip, cliff-jumping together or facing some other crazy fear together.
Spontaneity is incredibly attractive and I've witnessed even the most disenchanted Millennials come out of their shell in the summer, get out of their comfort zone and try new things with new people.
6. Dating is cheaper in the summer
Sometimes I wonder if the reason men ask us out for coffee instead of taking us out on real dates is that restaurants are expensive.
But in the summer, more guys ask us out. Why? Hmm. Maybe it's because there are so many free or extremely cheap date ideas to choose from in the summer.
A picnic at the beach at sunset is cheap, renting a kayak is cheap, going for ice cream is really cheap and going on a hike or a walk along the beach is free.
An awesome date doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg, that's for sure, and it's way easier to think of date ideas when the weather is nice.
7. Being outdoors makes us feel happier
Dating is so much better in the summer because we feel happier in the warmer weather. (And people are more appealing to others when they're happy.)
We tend to be more active, playing beach volleyball, hiking and kayaking – and being active releases those feel-good endorphins. But that's not all: Getting outside contributes to a major increase in your mood.
Studies have shown that immersing ourselves in nature makes us feel happier and less stressed.
It seems obvious why we have so much fun dating in the summer now, doesn't it?
