A January survey of 1,000 U.S. singles between the ages of 18 and 79 conducted by DatingNews.com found that more than half of singles (65%) feel hopeful about dating in 2026.
They seek to meet other singles in a variety of ways. 73% used dating apps, 48% met through friends or colleagues, and 24% through interests or lifestyle events.
If you’re single and looking to meet someone, there are green lights you can look out for during your search, says Sabrina Romanoff, a New York-based psychologist and relationship expert at dating app Hily.
“The biggest thing about dating is you never know who the person on the other side of the table is,” she says. The goal is for you to experience that. Here are five traits she looks for.
1. Be consistent
“For the first month of a relationship, almost anyone can pretend to be the perfect partner,” says Romanoff. But people who are truly interested will continue to show that interest over time.
That means actively listening and following up on elements of your life, such as asking about an issue at work after you’ve raised it, or setting a date around an activity you’ve told them you like.
The important thing is to remain attentive and focused, not just during the date, but throughout the date.
2. Take responsibility for your own shortcomings
Everyone makes mistakes and failures in life. we are humans.
But a good partner can take responsibility, apologize, and know that they are not inherently a bad person. They still have room to grow, Romanoff said.
If someone is 20 minutes late for a date, there’s a difference between saying, “You’re being ridiculous” or “being very formal,” and simply saying, “I’m really sorry for being late,” Romanoff says.
She says she wants a partner who believes that “we are allowed to fail and we are allowed to grow together from our shortcomings.”
3. You can control your emotions.
A lot can go wrong in a day, and there is little we can control. But it’s very telling how the person you’re dating reacts to moments like this. “How do you treat the waitstaff?” says Romanoff. “How do you deal with minor inconveniences?”
Are they patient? Will they be able to see things from a different perspective? Do they get angry easily?
Everyone has their moments of irritation, but if they’re always “very rude, very hurried, very aggressive,” it shows how they’re dealing with stress, and that’s likely to show up more often in their future together, she says.
4. Set clear intentions about what you want
In any relationship, it’s important to feel calm and safe. This is where the potential partner’s clear intentions become important.
It helps to date someone who lets you communicate what you want in a relationship and then follows through on that declaration. For example, if they say they’re interested in a long-term partner, are they gradually integrating their life into yours? Are they introducing you to people who are important to them and introducing you to their favorite activities?
“How we feel during a date is largely a reaction and reflection of what our partner is showing us,” Romanoff says, adding, “When a partner isn’t clear or vague about what they want, anxiety inevitably arises.”
5. Makes you feel calm and safe
It’s easy to mistake sparks and chemical reactions for genuine connections. However, these signs may actually indicate that previous unhealthy relationship dynamics are affecting you, perhaps something you experienced with your parents. Romanoff says it’s best to avoid that.
Instead, check in with yourself during the date to see if you feel safe and the conversation flows naturally. Then, after the date, think about whether something they said made you pause, or if you feel like you have to put on a performance every time you meet, like by buying new clothes.
“If you feel grounded and safe after meeting them, rather than anxious, that’s your intuition telling you that you can trust them,” says Romanoff.
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