Your Guide to Crushing Dating Sunday and Getting Better Matches
Today is the day. Dating Sunday.
If the dating industry had a Super Bowl, this would be it. The first Sunday of the new year brings hope, renewed energy, and a flood of singles onto the apps.
Every January, people update their vision boards, revisit their goals, and decide that this is the year things finally change. If you’re like me, you’ll update your vision board or habit tracker trying to drop those pounds, book that trip to Ibiza or spend more time with friends. One of my friends skips resolutions altogether and creates a small set of attainable goals because she knows she will actually stick to them. Do whatever keeps you grounded and moving forward.
For many people, love and relationships sit right at the top of that goals list.
After another holiday season of being single, you tell yourself, “This is the year I’m going to find my person.” You sign into your apps and start swiping right along with the estimated 360 million people using online dating platforms. And on the first Sunday of the new year, activity hits its annual peak. This is why it is called Dating Sunday.
What is Dating Sunday
Dating Sunday first started in 2016 when the apps noticed a spike in activity on the first Sunday. Hinge reported a record-breaking Dating Sunday turnout in 2025 compared to average Sundays, with a 31.2% increase in likes and 24.5% increase in messages. Tinder sees an increase of activity by 10%.
Singles show up in droves because the new year sparks reflection, intention, and the desire for connection. If you want visibility and momentum, this is the day to refresh your profile and show up ready.
How to be Successful on Dating Sunday
Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” He obviously wasn’t talking about dating apps, but the lesson applies. Success starts with clarity.
Before you swipe, ask yourself what you want.
Are you looking for something long-term, friends with benefits or just want to explore what’s out there? If you’re intentionally dating or looking for something casual, that’s going to determine what apps you want to be on. There is no wrong answer, but in order to be successful you need to be transparent in your profile, but more importantly with yourself.
Tinder is the number one dating app that was originally designed to be a hook up app, but many are finding success on it. My girlfriend just celebrated her two year wedding anniversary and that’s where she met her husband! HInge, Bumble and Match are more traditional relationship apps. Feeld is designed for people who are sexually curious or looking for consensual non monogamous relationships.
Go where your people are.
Know Your Must Haves and Deal Breakers
Create a short list of things that matter to you.
This might include wanting children, faith, lifestyle choices, location, or political beliefs. There is no right or wrong here, but the more must haves you stack, the smaller your dating pool becomes.
I recommend picking 15 traits you want your potential partner to have. Create a list and reflect as you start swiping and dating.
Build a Dating Profile That Actually Works
Now that you have selected what dating apps and the type of partner you want, you need to create your profile.
Choose Six Recent Photos
Photos need to be taken within the last year. The first photo should be a clear headshot. No hats. No sunglasses. Smile and look directly into the camera.
Your second photo should be a full body shot, head to toe.
After that, choose activity photos.
Snowboarding. Biking. A marathon. A boat day. You in your favorite country. Something that shows your life and what you enjoy doing.
I once managed a client’s profile in the DC area where many government and former military men lived. A lot of them uploaded shooting range photos or deployment photos. For her, this was an immediate hard no because she had survived a school shooting and lost friends. What may seem neutral or cool to you can be a trigger or deal breaker for someone else. Be selective and intentional.
A few more photo rules:
- No group photos, if you must include a photo with a friend, only ONE other person.
- Gentleman, ladies really don’t like the shirtless photos.
- One fishing photo max – sorry, not sorry.
- Look at the camera, smiling.
- Wear flattering outfits in brighter colors. Have a variety of outfits; causal, formal, business professional.
- Hinge reports selfies perform poorly, so grab a friend and do a mini photo shoot.
Use the 80/20 Rule
Your profile should be 80% about you and 20% percent of what it’s like to date you! Pick profile prompts that you can truly show who you are and give them a reason to interact with you.
- I’m on the hunt for the perfect dumpling in the city. What’s your favorite spot?
- I love spending time outdoors and I have a seasonal ski pass to a few local mountains. I just booked a trip to go skiing in Switzerland. Any suggestions on the best resorts or activities?
- I’ve traveled to 32 countries and counting…I hope your passport isn’t expired.
Keep your prompts and bio positive, the more you fill out the better. There is nothing worse than negativity or someone who can’t fill out the prompts. It screams if you can’t make the effort to fill out a dating profile, you’re not going to take the effort to get to know me.
Preview Before You Go Live
Double check everything.
Are your photos centered and in the right order?
Did you misspell anything?
Most apps now offer AI tools to help strengthen your profile. Use them. Then ask a friend for feedback. I once updated a girlfriend’s profile over happy hour; rearranging her pictures and beefing up her prompts. She messaged me later that week that her likes and messages doubled.
Swipe With A Purpose
Now start swiping! I suggest viewing your apps twice a day; 15 minutes in the morning to swipe and 15 minutes in the evening to respond to messages.
I also recommend turning your notifications off. This allows you to avoid dating app fatigue. The constant likes and messages give us a dopamine hit, while it’s fun, it’s addicting.
Do not just like photos. Leave comments. Ask engaging questions. Put effort into your conversations.
Move to a Date Before You Lose Momentum
The key to getting off the apps is to ask people out! If you’ve been communicating on the app for a solid two weeks, ask him or her out. No one wants a penpal.
Gentleman, have a plan when asking a woman out. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you, I’d really like to have dinner with you. Are you available this week?
Ask if they have a preference in restaurants, if they say no, send the menus of two or three restaurants to them and ask what they prefer. Go to them for the date or at the very minimum meet halfway. Make a reservation and confirm, Great, Saturday night at 7, it’s a date! Then confirm the day before. These little details go a long way.
Keep a Positive Attitude
Take a deep breath, have fun and keep a positive attitude throughout the process. Dating Sunday can bring excitement, nerves, and a little overwhelm. Take breaks when needed. And remember that sometimes the thing you want most is sitting just outside your comfort zone.
You got this!
If you want help optimizing your dating app profile, creating prompts that stand out, or strategizing for the year ahead, feel free to schedule a strategy call with me.
