Dating expert warns against ‘avalanching’ trend this January that could ruin your year

January is a great time to bid farewell to old habits you want to kick and replace them with shiny, brand-new ones.

If you're eager to sort your love life out once and for all in 2024 then you may want to tread with caution as one dating expert has issued an urgent warning against the new 'avalanching' trend this January that could ruin your entire year.

We're well and truly in the peak of cuffing season and Valentine's Day is now just around the corner so it makes sense why singletons all over are taking their hunt for love to the next level.

According to a survey conducted by FindingTheOne.com, the new dating app that focuses on real life meets, a whopping 79 percent of singletons admit to swiping right more in January in search of a Valentine over fears of being alone on the 14 February.

So - what is 'avalanching'?

Well, dating expert, Sylvia Linzalone says that it's basically the phenomenon which sees a chaotic January scramble to find love.

Sylvia warns that the rush to find a match in time for Valentine’s Day, which is now just a little over a month away, could actually be counterproductive as singles may fall victim to the dreaded 'avalanching'.

"The spike in January swiping is a natural response to societal expectations and the desire for companionship during a season focused on love," she explains.

LaylaBird / Getty Images

"Being single on Valentine’s Day can be quite a disheartening time for some, especially if you’re surrounded by loved up friends who are eagerly making plans for fancy dinners and romantic getaways."

However, Sylvia explains that the January rush to find love in time for V Day might actually have some pretty serious consequences as singles become affected by 'avalanching', leaving people totally buried under a massive amount of new messages and interactions on dating apps.

This could later lead to singles feeling overwhelmed and under pressure, as the sudden surge of attention hits.

And it's not just for the peeps on the apps as Sylvia pointed out: "There’s the additional risk of feeling disappointed if those extra efforts that people put into finding a date for Valentine's Day don’t come to fruition."

Tatiana Meteleva / Getty Images

Singleton Fran from Colchester, a singleton looking for love who took part in the survey, opened up about how her love life fairs in the first few months of the New Year, revealing: "I hate being alone on Valentine’s Day. All of my closest friends are loved up in long-term relationships, so they’re all sorted, while I run the risk of spending the night alone with a bottle of wine and EastEnders on the TV to keep me company.

"I’ve made it my mission to find someone by the 14 February, so I’m going on out with my search on various dating apps – I’ve updated my photos and bio to make sure I stand out among the crowd, and I’m admittedly swiping right on people that I probably wouldn’t have a few months ago.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures…"

They sure do.

When asked about how singles can avoid getting caught up in the faff of this pre-Valentine’s Day frenzy, Sylvia suggested: "What we need to do is embrace intentional dating."

Amen.