The weather’s getting colder, leaves are turning orange, and holiday music is playing on the radio. You know what that means: it’s cuffing season.
Urban Dictionary defines Cuffing Season: “during the fall and winter months people who would normally rather be single or promiscuous find themselves along with the rest of the world desiring to be ‘cuffed’ or tied down by a serious relationship. The cold weather and prolonged indoor activity causes singles to become lonely and desperate to be cuffed.”
With Hallmark Christmas movies and Mariah Carey playing on loop, the holidays make everyone want to be in love. We get it. Although cuffing season isn’t a real thing, it is true that cold weather can make people more lonely, and when events like family gatherings and office parties start to populate the calendar, it makes sense that people may not want to attend those things on their own.
Cuffing season can be a rocky road for a lot of people though, because bad decisions can be made when you decide to start looking for love on a whim, just because it’s cold outside. Fact Not Fiction is here to help you not only guard your heart, but also to remind you to use protection in other areas of your life as well this season. Here are some things to keep in mind, now that the season has arrived.
Don’t jump into anything too quickly.
Just because it’s cuffing season doesn’t mean you should stop listening to your head and simply follow your heart. After all, cuffing season isn’t even a real thing; it’s a made up season that people use as an excuse for getting into new relationships. Please don’t make any life-altering decisions just because of an Urban Dictionary holiday!
But no matter what you do, take some time to think about it and make sure it’s the right decision for you. If you’re starting a relationship or just going on a few dates, be sure to remind yourself what you want and do what’s best for you.
Especially if you have any doubt with your relationship or where it’s going, take a few steps back and think about what you really want out of the relationship.
Set and respect boundaries.
Set boundaries with yourself and others. Know what you want. Know what your partner wants. And remember that the rules of consent don’t go out the window when the cold air rushes in.
Don’t do something that you — or your partner — doesn’t want to do just because you think that’s what’s required of cuffing season. You dreamed about finding love for the holidays, and now that you have, you don’t want to mess it up. But you know what you think is right and wrong, and what you want. Don’t let the season mislead you. Stand up for yourself and what you want!
Guard your heart (among other things).
One of the most important things to keep in mind this cuffing season is to use protection. Always.
Guard your heart, yes. But also guard a few other things.
Use protection, and make sure you’re prepared for what you’re getting yourself into. Whether that means buying condoms, being on the pill, or just learning accurate information, know what you need to do ahead of time, so that you can avoid making bad decisions in the future.
Get informed.
Stocking up on knowledge, especially about sex and health, is always a good thing. It’s better to have the answers to your questions before you need them. That’s why sex education is so vital.
Here are a few resources to help you be prepared for whatever life throws at you:
Fact Not Fiction: Ask the Expert, Sex Myths, and a Clinic Finder
At Fact Not Fiction, we’re always here for you, regardless of your age, gender, sexuality, or whether or not you’re sexually active. Whatever you do, with whomever, don’t do it in the dark. And ALWAYS make sure it’s done with consent.
