Modern Love And Mental Health: How Youth Deals With Dating Burnout; Experts Weigh In

Situationships. Ghosting. Benching. Nanoship. Breadcrumbing – and the list goes on and on. Modern dating is like a spider web, and not a straight one-way path anymore. The availability of too many options, online dating, casual dating and dating apps, all these have added to the complications. Today’s youth are facing what we call ‘dating burnout’. But, they are in no mood to give up on the idea of ‘love’ and finding their ‘right one’ it seems. A group of young and eligible singles share how they cope with dating burnout. Keep reading.

To get a wholesome picture on how the modern dating setups affect your mental health, we reached out to experts, Dhvani Satija, Psychiatrist, Fortis Hospital, Faridabad and Dr Divya Shree KR, Consultant – Psychiatry, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore.

‘Self-love And Binge-watching’: How Youth Deals With Dating Burnout

When finding a partner feels like a task, burnout is inevitable. Old school dating had its charm, which is almost rare to find these days. But GenZs and millennials have their ways to deal with dating burnout. Let’s hear it out from them.

“I take a step back. I log off the apps, take myself out on solo dates, and remind myself that my worth isn’t tied to someone else’s interest or attention span. I also try to approach dating with gentler expectations. Instead of looking for ‘the one’, I look for genuine moments: a good conversation, shared laughter, a feeling of ease,” shares Saumya Rastogi, a 28-year-old Delhi-based journalist.

Similarly, Trisha (name changed) too takes a step back whenever she feels burnt out from the modern dating scenario. “I let myself breathe. I delete the apps for a while, focus on my work, hobbies, and spend time with people who truly care about me. I remind myself that real connection can’t be forced or rushed — it comes when you are emotionally steady”, shares the 34-year-old Delhi-based Communication Manager.

“When I feel like giving up on the dating scene altogether, I go back to watching my favourite romcoms. The magic of 2000s romcoms literally force you to believe in love again,” says Anubha Shriwas, 22, Delhi-based Journalist.

Tiyas Pal believes love is the only thing that gives people hope. “I believe in today’s cruel world, love is the only thing that binds people together. Whenever I feel tired from today’s dating scene, I binge watch my favourite shows, hang out with my most precious and lovely friends and indulge myself in hobbies I like to enjoy the most,” shares the 29-year-old Kolkata-based Digital Marketeer.

Also Read: Modern Love And Mental Health – Millennials And Gen Zs Share Tales Of Dating Burnout; Experts Weigh In

‘No More Swipes’: How Youth Believes In Love Again

For many young people, taking time off or deleting dating apps often helps them deal with dating burnout.

“Taking a break from dating apps helped a lot. Spending time with friends and focusing on things I enjoy made me feel more energetic, optimistic, and social, which reignited my belief in love. Now, before logging into any dating app, I set clear personal dealbreakers. This helps me swipe more intentionally, resulting in matches with more like-minded people. The biggest shift has been self-acceptance, understanding that things won’t always turn out the way we want. Sometimes things just aren’t meant to be, and that’s okay,” shares Karan Cheema, 27-year-old Delhi-based Marketing Consultant.

For Anshuman Aryav, dealing with dating burnout begins with uninstalling the dating apps. “Like no apps, no mindless swiping. I focus on myself, spend time with friends, and remind myself that love isn’t a marathon you run for, it’s something that comes and grows naturally,” says the 24-year-old Delhi-based Media Professional.

Expert Tips To Overcome Dating Burnout

The impact of dating burnout on mental health may be a tricky path to navigate. But our experts share tips to deal with it the right way.

“Take a break from dating apps and online messages to rest your mind and emotions. Focus on yourself by pursuing hobbies, spending time with friends and family, exercising, and practicing self-care. Set clear boundaries about how much time and energy you spend on dating. Avoid rushing into relationships or seeking validation from others, and reflect on what you truly want in a partner and relationship to make dating more meaningful,” shares Dr Shree KR.

On this note, Dr Satija lists down some tips to deal with dating burnout:

Take a structured break: A pause from dating apps reduces overstimulation and allows the nervous system to reset. Even a short break can help restore clarity.

Rebuild your sense of self outside dating: Engage in friendships, hobbies, physical activity, or creative outlets. These reinforce internal self-worth, which buffers against dating-related stress.

Clarify your emotional goals: Many people date without checking what they truly need – companionship, fun, connection, or long-term partnership. Misalignment between intention and behaviour is a major driver of burnout.

Limit your emotional bandwidth: Set boundaries such as – one app at a time, fewer conversations, or scheduled times to swipe. Quality, not quantity, reduces exhaustion.

Communicate honestly early on: Clear expectations whether casual or serious protect emotional well-being and reduce future misunderstandings.

Don’t personalise rejection: Detaching your self-worth from someone’s interest level is crucial. Compatibility not worthiness is what rejections usually reflect.

Seek deeper, slower connection: Instead of juggling multiple matches, invest in conversations that genuinely feel meaningful. Emotional pacing helps restore hope and reduces emotional overwhelm.

Consider speaking with a mental health professional: Therapy can help identify patterns, heal relationship-related wounds, and build healthier dating strategies.

Also Read: Modern Love And Mental Health: How Dating Apps, Situationships Make ‘Finding Love’ Emotionally Draining

The Final Word

With so many dating apps, and complicated setups like situationships, ghosting and casual dating, modern love feels like a task. To deal with dating burnout, youth opts to go on solo dates and binge watch their favourite romcoms. Experts also share how with some simple hacks – such honest communication and seeking deeper, slower connection – you can overcome dating burnout.