Every relationship goes through lots of phases. From the first date to the honeymoon phase, from learning about each other to "the hard work," you're not just dating one person - you're dating a whole lotta someones that reveal themselves to your like layers of an onion.All of these phases are small tests that help you make sure that you're compatible with each other and that your relationship will work out. If you don’t work with our significant other on these phases and maintain honest, open communication, your relationships might just fall apart.
It all starts with the first time you lay eyes on them…or their profile. In real life, you see someone you’d like to pursue and walk up to them so you can start a conversation. App culture has completely removed this step of the dating process.With various apps you can find someone online and start messaging them. Often times people find themselves in inbox-hell, where they're sending messages and getting stuck in a long game of “who can wait the longest to message back?”With regular dating apps you may be getting or sending messages to people who you aren’t interested in, or who aren’t interested in you.Well, IAC’s app Tinder has changed all that.Tinder has become the premier option for young people (or not so young) to meet each other without having to fear rejection. This app turns traditional internet dating on its head.Instead of finding someone’s profile you like and then messaging that person, Tinder shows you a picture and profile of people who are in your area. Swipe right if you like them, and swipe left if you don’t. If both of you swipe right, the app matches you and a chat dialog opens up and you’re allowed to contact each other.Tinder takes the pain of rejection out of the dating process and lets you set up a date with that person who might be the one.Both of you are getting to know each other, and having long conversations where you start to really dig into the interesting details of what makes you, you. You talk about your family, your pet-peeves, and even share secrets. Your relationship’s romance and beauty are growing.Ice break lets you share answers to hypotheticals and personality questions with your significant other.After the Honeymoon Phase, Icebreak can be used as a fun, entertaining way to learn more about your significant other without completely freaking out that the honeymoon phase is, indeed, over.
After a couple months of dating, this phase rears its ugly head. It begins when you have your first fight, big disagreement, or shouting match. It’s okay. There's an app for that.Fix a Fight gives you steps to follow to fix your relationship after a conflict. No, for real.The app uses the soothing voice of Mark McGonigle, a cheeky marital therapist who's worked wonders with hundreds of squabbling couples.This app, which is based on solid relationship research, allows you to take the necessary steps to get your relationship back to a good place (you know, where you were using one of the other apps).
Once you get past the Michelangelo phase, your relationship is on cruise control and you feel like the both of you may be a great match. During this phase you may start thinking about marriage and truly get attached to your significant other.LokLok lets you sync the lock screens on your smartphones so you can send each other goofy selfies or write cute notes that can be seen without having to unlock your phone.Watch out, synced smartphones? Shit just got serious.
There’s an app for that
Just like many other sticky (icky icky) issues in life, your smartphone is here to help. Below you’ll find apps that can be used to help you through every phase of your relationship, not just the part where you're meeting someone new.1. Tinder: Love at first swipe
By OhMyGeek! (image), via YouTube
2. Avocado: The honeymoon phase
You’re in the early phases of your relationship and both of you can’t get enough of each other. You’re always seen cuddling, hugging, and kissing each other.Avocado is a private, secure, and fun app that lets you stay connected to the most important person in your life. It keeps every message, video, and picture all in one place. You can share lists, make dates with the calendar feature (also works with Google calendar), or even send drawings and animations to each other.It's sort of like the 21st century version of making someone a mixtape. Feeling warm 'n fuzzy yet?3. Icebreak for Couples: The understanding phase
Both of you are getting to know each other, and having long conversations where you start to really dig into the interesting details of what makes you, you. You talk about your family, your pet-peeves, and even share secrets. Your relationship’s romance and beauty are growing.Ice break lets you share answers to hypotheticals and personality questions with your significant other.After the Honeymoon Phase, Icebreak can be used as a fun, entertaining way to learn more about your significant other without completely freaking out that the honeymoon phase is, indeed, over.4. Fix a Fight: The conflict phase
After a couple months of dating, this phase rears its ugly head. It begins when you have your first fight, big disagreement, or shouting match. It’s okay. There's an app for that.Fix a Fight gives you steps to follow to fix your relationship after a conflict. No, for real.The app uses the soothing voice of Mark McGonigle, a cheeky marital therapist who's worked wonders with hundreds of squabbling couples.This app, which is based on solid relationship research, allows you to take the necessary steps to get your relationship back to a good place (you know, where you were using one of the other apps).5. Kouply: The Michelangelo phase
You start forming expectations for your partner and you try hard to “sculpt” the person that you may have long-term plans for. This phase is full of compromise as you both try to suggest things that each other needs to work on (and maybe even work on some of your own stuff too).Kouply lets you use positive reinforcement to reward your partner when they do something nice that needs to be recognized.Kouply can let you create a competitive game where you both try to see how many nice things you can do for each other every day. Like send flowers to their office just because, or walk their dog when it's thirty below and f&8&^% freezing outside.6. LokLok: The happy phase
Once you get past the Michelangelo phase, your relationship is on cruise control and you feel like the both of you may be a great match. During this phase you may start thinking about marriage and truly get attached to your significant other.LokLok lets you sync the lock screens on your smartphones so you can send each other goofy selfies or write cute notes that can be seen without having to unlock your phone.Watch out, synced smartphones? Shit just got serious.