As many of you know, the 2021 fall equinox just recently passed on September 22. The temperature is dropping, the leaves are beginning to change and, as October rolls in, people are starting to realize how cold and alone they are again. Hence, cuffing season is among us. What that means is that this is the time of year where those who are single start looking for serious or long-term relationships so they can withstand the cold of the winter in the arms of a new interest. What is odd here is that cuffing season actually seems to be several weeks early! Does this make sense? Let me explain.

On the UIS campus alone, there seems to have been a recent spike in new relationships and situationships by around roughly 10%. This includes many romantically set dates, little moments like hand holding and more blunt Facebook status updates about new relationships. Why? Well, there are a lot of possible reasons.

One is that 2020 was a rough year, and that is putting it in mild terms. It was also what seemed to be a turning point in the way people responded to each other and realized their need for closeness in times of social distance, both literally and figuratively. Many may feel this way especially after having gotten vaccinated – it can feel like there should not be any reason not to be close with someone with how chilly it has suddenly gotten. Beyond this, even just the reality of seeing so many new couples on the UIS campus can lead to many feeling an inclination to pair up with someone themselves. Social environments can be fairly impactful on the mind in ways like this, and this does not have to be a bad thing considering it leads to such romantic encounters.

When considering the factors involved, it make sense why things have been moving the way they have. The increase in relationships is a beautiful time and it is comforting to see people happy with each other. That said, stay tuned for the next article regarding relationships: Cuffing Season Couples Counseling!