How To Use Dating Apps While Home For Thanksgiving To Have The Best Holiday Ever

Thanksgiving weekend is best spent doing these three things, in no particular order: binge-watching every holiday-themed episode of Friends, consuming absurd amounts of mashed potatoes, and flirting with randoms and/or people from your past. App-wise, that means you should definitely download Netflix to your mobile device of choice (especially if you’ll be traveling) and maybe temporarily delete your fitness tracker, but should you use dating apps at home over Thanksgiving break? Well, it depends.

For reasons that defy logic, Thanksgiving is the one holiday simultaneously known for overeating and getting busy. If I had to guess, I’d say the tryptophan in turkey that makes you happy (by boosting serotonin levels) and tired (by boosting melatonin levels) sends mixed signals to your brain. Sure, you’re unusually chipper and, no, you wouldn’t mind hitting the sack... just as long as you’re not alone.

So, what better way to find hot singles in your area who are DTF post-turkey than on a dating app? It's quick, easy and entertaining. Not only is a Thanksgiving fling fun, but it'll also distract you from doing the unthinkable — talking politics with drunken, distant relatives.

Holiday hookups are especially ideal if you're not looking for anything serious. "Most likely, using apps over Thanksgiving weekend will be for casual dating or hookups [and] most people you connect with won't live in the area anyway," says relationship expert and founder of eFlirt Laurie Davis. By Monday morning, you and your dating app matches will be on your way back to your semi-adult lives in cities far away from your hometown, giving you the perfect excuse for not calling the next day or not inviting them to brunch the following weekend.

Using dating apps over Thanksgiving break is also a good way to reconnect with someone you went to high school with or had a major girl-next-door crush on for the longest time. Davis says, "If you match with someone from high school and you're into the conversation, definitely go on a date. Even if you don't live in the area, you never know what will happen." Maybe you'll even get to live out other adolescent fantasies — like hooking up with the girl who used to babysit you when you were 11 and she was an unthinkable 16 — in a totally legal and consensual way now.

According to Davis, you should be open to endless possibilities when swiping right during the holidays. Although Thanksgiving hookups are typically meant to be short-lived, there’s the smallest possibility you might want to see this person again — even if it is just for sex. "There's always the December festivities a month later and, after that, who knows where you'll take it," she adds.

If, on the other hand, you’re strictly looking for love this holiday season, swipe with caution or don’t swipe at all. Davis warns, "If you're looking for a relationship, skip swiping during Thanksgiving weekend unless you live in the area. A long-distance relationship is never out of the question, but it's more likely you'll just meet people for a date or two."

While the holidays may not be the best time to use dating apps, it’s always a good time to have a good time (if you know what I mean). Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there this Thanksgiving — swipe right on your hot older neighbor, send that flirty message, ask your crush out, or sign up for a travel date. "Maybe all you’ll have is a steamy flirtation or maybe it will turn into a relationship. But if you don't go out, you'll never know," Davis says. Don’t let all that extra serotonin go to waste!

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