Dinner reservations are out. Dog walks, grocery runs, and gym classes are in. With dating burnout on the rise, singles are trading candlelit dinners for “choremances,” casual dates built around everyday tasks. A new study from Arrows surveyed 1,000 single Americans to find out how common chore-based dates have become, whether they actually lead to relationships, and why the shift to choremancing might be a surprisingly healthy turn for modern romance.

Key Takeaways

• 43% of single Americans feel burned out about dating.
• Nearly 2 in 3 single Americans (64%) feel extremely pressured by traditional first dates.
• Nearly 1 in 3 single Americans (30%) have gone on a choremance date.
• Over 1 in 3 singles (35%) said a choremance date led to an ongoing relationship.
• More than 1 in 2 single Americans (56%) are open to choremancing.
• 63% of singles say a walk in a neighborhood/park is their top early-stage “choremance” date.
• Nearly half of singles (49%) prefer choremancing over a traditional date, including 50% of Millennials, 49% of Gen X+, and 46% of Gen Z.

Dating Burnout and First-Date Pressure Are Driving the Shift

• 57% of singles said awkward small talk is a major first-date turn-off, followed by 49% who dislike feeling pressure to impress.

• 36% said not being able to be themselves is a big downside, while others cite safety concerns (29%), cost (26%), and low-activity dates (19%) as turn-offs.

• Over 2 in 5 singles (43%) are burned out on dating. That jumps to 48% among millennials and 47% among Gen X+, but is lower among Gen Z (34%).

• 64% of all singles surveyed feel extremely pressured by traditional first dates. These meetups feel especially high-pressure for Gen X+ (72%) and millennials (65%), though 60% of Gen Z feel it too.

• When asked about ideal date formats, 35% said they like a mix of chore-style and traditional dates, 26% prefer traditional plans, and 23% are all-in on errands and activity-based meetups.

Errands Might Be the New Love Language

• Nearly 1 in 3 singles (30%) have gone on a choremancing date. This is most common among millennials and Gen Z (31% each), followed by Gen X+ (26%).
  
• 56% of all respondents said they’re open to choremancing. A majority of singles in every generation haven’t tried it yet, but said they would, including 59% of Gen X+, 55% of millennials, and 55% of Gen Z.
  
• 50% of singles who went on a chore date said it led to a second date.
  
• Over 1 in 3 (35%) said their chore date led to an ongoing relationship. Choremance activities most likely to spark a relationship include:
  • Walking (52%)
  • Errands (51%)
  • Grocery shopping (41%)
  • Cooking or meal prepping (41%)
  • Working or studying (39%)
    
• 78% of singles said choremancing makes dating feel more financially sustainable, and another 78% believe these dates signal a shift away from performative dating.
  
• 71% said chore-style dates help them assess compatibility more effectively, and 70% think these dates reduce first-date anxiety.
  
• 55% believe errand-style dates can help form stronger long-term relationships.
  

Methodology

Arrows surveyed 1,000 single Americans to explore the rise of choremancing, the trend of turning everyday tasks like grocery runs, dog walks, gym classes, coffee refills, or even overdue beauty appointments into dates. The average age of the respondents was 34; 49% were women, 48% were men, and 3% identified as non-binary. The sample consisted of 15% of Gen X and older generations (referred to as Gen X+), 50% millennials, and 35% Gen Z. Some percentages in this study may not total 100% due to rounding.

About Arrows

Arrows is a modern matchmaking service for people who are done with dating apps. Our expert matchmakers take the guesswork out of dating, so you can skip the swiping and focus on finding someone who actually fits your life. If choremancing sounds like your kind of connection, Arrows is ready to help you find the right person to share it with.

Fair Use Statement

If you’d like to share this data or concept, we’d love that! Just be sure to include proper attribution with a link back to Arrows, and only use it for noncommercial purposes.