Research shows that healthy relationships are built on three things: self-insight, emotional regulation and mutuality.
As the new year gets underway, singles aren’t just reflecting on their dating from the past year, they’re reflecting on themselves. New research from Bumble, the women-first dating app, reveals that more than half of Indian singles (68%) have often paused to assess their dating habits from 2025, highlighting a growing sense of self-awareness as they step into the new year.
This new-found clarity shows singles entering 2026 with a sharper sense of what serves them - and what doesn’t. More than eight in ten Indian singles (83%) agree they’re choosing to learn from what didn’t work in 2025 rather than repeating the same patterns, setting the tone for a more intentional year of dating.
Bumble’s research reveals the top three habits singles are most eager to break in themselves: oversharing too soon (19%), low-effort texting (15%), and avoiding difficult conversations (19%) - the dating equivalent of a New Year’s clear-out, swapping old vibes, in with the good ones for 2026 and making room to spend time on actual dates.
At the same time, singles are being deliberate about what they are taking into 2026. The top three habits prioritised are communicating clearly (40%), being respectful and reliable (35%), and actually texting back when they say they will (24%) - signaling a trend towards more mindful, empathetic dating, ditching low-effort culture and showing up in ways that build emotional clarity from the start.
It doesn’t mean that singles are having to do all the work; much like resetting your wellness routine or your screen-time habits, the research shows single people are now taking the time to reflect where it matters, recognising which behaviours may be holding them back and which ones are helping them grow and flourish. In fact, nine in ten Single Indians (97%) agree they’ll be prioritising self-love or personal growth in 2026.
Bumble Relationship Expert, Shan Boodram, says: "The good news is that taking accountability doesn’t have to feel heavy. Research shows that healthy relationships are built on three things: self-insight, emotional regulation and mutuality. Two of those are about understanding yourself and your own behaviour and the third is a reminder that things only really click when the other person is doing that work as well. As we go into a new year, the goal isn’t to date harder, it's to date more honestly by regulating your unhelpful patterns, expressing your true needs, and choosing people who are doing the same.”
With the new year comes a fresh outlook to dating, and Bumble’s latest features help singles feel confident and genuine in how they show up.
- ID Verification lets people on Bumble show they’re exactly who they say they are, with verified profiles seeing up to 30%* more matches and better-quality conversations
- Improved prompts make it easier to start thoughtful chats, while regularly refreshed profiles, especially those with four to six clear photos receive up to three times more matches
These updates also help Bumble show more relevant people, making it simpler to start connections that actually go somewhere.
*Based on internal Bumble App data of active global members from October - December 2025
