CNBC.COM
A majority, 65%, of singles feel hopeful about dating in 2026, according to a January survey of 1,000 U.S. singles, ages 18 to 79, by DatingNews.com.
They're looking to meet other singles in multiple ways: 73% use dating apps, 48% meet through friends and coworkers, and 24% through interest-based or lifestyle events.
If you're single and looking to meet someone, there are green flags you can look out for during your search, says Sabrina Romanoff, a New York-based psychologist and relationship expert for Hily, a dating app.
"The biggest thing in dating is that we have no idea who the person on the other end of the table is," she says. The goal is to get a sense of that. Here are five traits she recommends looking for.
1. They're consistent
"Almost anyone can put up that facade of being the perfect partner for the first month of dating," says Romanoff. But someone who's really interested will continue to show that interest over time.
That could mean active listening and following up on elements of your life, for example, like asking about a problem at work after you brought it up or arranging a date around an activity you've told them you love.
The key is to make sure that care and focus continue — not just during dates but between them, too.
2. They take accountability for their shortcomings
Everyone makes mistakes or messes up in life. We're human.
But a good partner can take accountability, apologize and know they're not inherently a bad person; they just have room to grow, says Romanoff.
In a situation where someone is 20 minutes late to a date, the difference is between saying "you're being ridiculous" or "you're being so rigid," says Romanoff, and simply saying, "I'm so sorry I'm late."
You want a partner who believes "we're allowed to mess up, and we're allowed to evolve from our flaws together," she says.
3. They're able to regulate their emotions
A lot can go wrong in a day and there's very little we have control over. But how the person you're dating reacts in these moments is very telling. "How do they treat wait staff?" says Romanoff. "How do they deal with slight inconveniences?"
Are they patient? Can they see things from another perspective? Do they get angry quickly?
Everyone has moments of frustration, but if they're consistently "very rude, very rushed, very aggressive," she says, that's an indication of how they handle stress, and that will show up frequently in a potential future life together.
4. They show clear intentions about what they want
In any relationship, it's important to feel calm and safe. That's where a potential partner's clear intent comes in.
Dating someone who can communicate what they want in a relationship and follow through on those declarations can help. If they say they're interested in a long-term partner, for example, are they slowly integrating their life with yours? Are they introducing you to people that matter to them and exposing you to some of their favorite activities?
"How we feel in dating is a big reaction and reflection of what our partner is showing us," says Romanoff, adding that, "when your partner is uncertain or ambiguous about what they want, it inevitably breeds anxiety."
5. They make you feel calm and safe
It's easy to mistake sparks and chemistry for a genuine connection. But those signs can actually be an indication that a former, unhealthy relationship dynamic is at play for you, maybe something you experienced with a parent. You'll want to steer clear of that, says Romanoff.
Instead, check in with yourself during your dates and see if you felt a sense of ease and a natural flow of conversation. And after your dates, consider if anything they said gave you pause or if you feel like you have to perform for them every time you get together by buying a new outfit, for example.
"If you feel grounded and at ease rather than anxious after seeing them," says Romanoff, "that's your gut instinct telling you that you can trust them."
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