As we near the end of the year, we're beginning to analyse how 2018 was for relationships. 

While some of them lasted longer than they should have, some saw a sad demise while the others made it to the apparent end goal- marriage. 

I would say 2018 was a mixed bag for relationships, where couple goals made an entry into the graph as non-reluctantly as possible. Although I'd also like to believe 2018 was the year for single people, who merely put themselves out there and probably faced the onslaught of a singleton as and when they had to. Maybe 'onslaught' is too harsh a word since single people have really lived up to their vices this year.

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Interestingly, a popular online dating portal called OkCupid released some statistics and data on relationship movement and behaviour in 2018 and some of it was quite accurate from what I know. 

They definitely dismiss the theory of '2018 is the year for single people' and use data that are relevant for couples who love to spend time together. 

For those couples who met on the dating app, it was a thrilling year, to say the least. There were recounts of what they love doing together, where they like holidaying or have been throughout the year and what they individually like about each other.

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One thing that really caught our attention though, was something really specific the millennials like to indulge in, as a romantic gesture. 

The findings narrate that couples today like to indulge in an immense amount of PDA (public display of affection) and aren't shy or ashamed to proclaim their love for one another, in front of an audience. Of course, they don't want to see someone indulging in PDA, but when it comes to them, they're really big on PDA nowadays. 

According to the given data, 31% of men and women alike are big on PDA and aren't afraid or shy at showing off their physical affection in public one for each other.

Another major indulgence we found through their data was men and women who like to pamper their respective GFs and BFs are more successful in their relationships. I guess PDA is a prominent part of that. 

According to OkCupid, 79% of men and women love to pamper their SOs silly. Which leads to healthier relationships with adequate attention given to both the individuals in the relationship.

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The new millennial dating structure is trying to ape the quintessential old-school methods of being around a partner and making relationships last. Earlier on, when dating techniques were relatively new, everything was a swipe away and fastidious. 

Millennials, this year, are learning to slow down with their respective relationships and care for the smaller things in life like pampering each other or showing an immense amount of physical love, publicly. 

Another aspect that came about on dating in 2018 was the couple's therapeutic release-travelling together. According to the given data, a lot of couples take travelling together as an undisputed way to spend time with each other. Goa happens to be the chosen destination of the year by most couples and a lot of them prefer stay-cations, where they can spend quality time together, just staying put in one place-like the couch and having a good time.   

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Real-time relationships did see a bit of dynamic change in 2018, wherein men and women both mustered the will to do things a little more old-school than what we've been seeing as relationship trends. 

So, if you ever want to indulge in a long-term relationship and keep your partner happy, maybe spend a lot more time vacationing with them or travelling as a whole, pampering them and, of course, not limiting your sense of PDA, every once a while, whenever you get a chance to!