Self-care is all the rage all the time these days! It's such an essential aspect of your self-development and maintaining your mental health. Often a few shifts in awareness are all it takes to get more self-care into your day-to-day life. But for many people, self-care tends to take a back burner to other "priorities," and it can lead to burnout.

Dating and communication go hand-in-hand. That should go without saying. But, so few were genuinely taught how to communicate in healthy ways. You're in the right place if you think your dating life and communication style aren't working out. As it turns out, you can easily sabotage your intimate relationships by not openly expressing your needs.

Online dating has been around since the 1990s when the internet started to become commonplace. Before online dating, there were personal ads, speed dating events, and places where you could try to meet someone special. But with your phone constantly in your hand, the prospect of meeting mister right seems like it's just a few swipes away. But try as you might, as many swipes as you swipe, you just can't seem to find the "one," but why is that?

Many people love a good project around the house or long-term self-improvement goals. But if you notice your relationships feel like chores, you may be dating fixer-uppers. Supporting someone's self-improvement can be a great asset to a relationship. Still, it shouldn't be a defining factor in the partners you choose. If your entire relationship style is built around reforming a guy, you're in for a world of hurt.

When you're dating, you don't want to waste your time. You may find people you're interested in, but you feel like some aspects of your personality just don't match up. Maybe you can't put your finger on exactly why you're feeling that way. There may be several reasons. To get to the bottom of it, you should ask specific questions to determine compatibility as partners.

Being single can suck. But it really, really shouldn't. When you're single and unattached, you'll have the most time and opportunity to grow and expand your identity. You can discover more about yourself, and figure out what you need in a partner. You can start living your happy single life now if you're ready to take advantage of it!

Sex is amazing when you let it happen naturally and go with the flow. However, very few people can even do that because of the sexual scripts we've been taught our whole lives. Those problematic sexual expectations are carried into porn and even sex education in our schools. If you want to learn how to have the best sex of your life, you first need to unlearn everything you think you "know" about sex.

Butterflies in your stomach, feeling giddy, you start to wonder about a future together. First dates are the best, right? Well, not for everyone. First dates can be a nerve-wracking experience.

Intimacy is a hot relationship topic. It's all about developing your relationship with your partner or spouse. But what about your relationship with yourself? What about personal intimacy? Do you feel emotionally connected to yourself?

What is a situationship? You've seen the word pop up all over. Maybe you've got some idea of what it means - but how do you know if you're in a situationship? Is being in a situationship a bad thing?

To decide if someone is worth keeping around in an intimate relationship, you need to know if they value you. If a person cares about you, they'll behave in specific ways that show you they want to be with you. To figure out if this person is right for you, look out for these signs that someone values you.

Very little in this world hurts a person as much as heartbreak can. You genuinely feel physical pain throughout your body. Colors become duller, food loses its taste, and all you can do is seek cheap dopamine to feel better. While feeling the pain of heartbreak is part of the healing process, there is much more to it. Learning how to heal your broken heart is a process everyone goes through. Luckily, you are here for a bit of a cheat sheet.

Perhaps you're new to using birth control methods, or maybe you've tried a few and are looking for the right fit. Choosing the right birth control for you can feel daunting, and like there are too many options.

The truth of the matter is that there are tons of different birth control options available. Many are equally effective, but not all of them will be ideal for you.

There is no reason to spare any expense when it comes to your safety. In the modern dating era, almost everyone uses a dating app to meet someone. When you talk to someone online, you really don't know who they are. It's just a few texts on a screen. If you agree to meet up in real life, then guess what? Someone entirely different may be joining you for dinner. Online dating safety isn't something that is first nature to everyone, but it needs to be.

If you've struggled in your relationships before, you've likely come across the rule of "keep dating." But what does that mean? It's exactly what it sounds like. Just because you're living together or even married doesn't mean that you can let go of all romance. Over time, it can be easy to lose sight of the things that shaped who you are as a couple.

Dating can be challenging and confusing. Especially with so many people out there playing the field post-COVID. Looking for someone to hook up with versus someone to spend the rest of your life with are two very different things. But how do you know which one you're looking for? How do you know which dating apps to use? Waste less time and attract the people you want to know by setting some rules and parameters for yourself.

When you're dating, everyone tries to be the best version of themselves. You want to show the best aspects of your personality. Almost like you're trying to sell something. Being aware of dating red flags means that you'll save yourself a lot of time, energy, and heartbreak moving forward.

Humans are emotional beings. You are no exception.

You're bound to suffer through sadness, stress, and anger. These help lead you to beautiful feelings such as happiness, love, and gratitude.

Did you know that you are not at the mercy of your emotions?

You can learn how to control your thoughts and feelings easily with a bit of guidance and practice.

Your dating profile is all about showcasing the best parts of who you are. It can take some time to accumulate the right photos, but it is worth the effort. Choosing the best pictures for your dating profile may sound overwhelming. Still, there are only a few simple requirements that most people look for.

Dating apps are more common than ever in the COVID-19 era. Going out and meeting someone special through friends doesn't happen the way it used to. Writing the best possible dating profile can take some trial and error. But with some practice, you can write something just right to help you meet a special someone.