Life Advice
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Ask Anna: I feel like I'm competing with my boyfriend's hobby for attention
Dear Anna,
I’ve been with my partner for two years in a rocky but loving relationship. Our main issue is his all-consuming passion for photography. He's on his camera club's volunteer committee, attends meetings every Monday, shoots Wednesday and Thursday evenings plus some Fridays, and spends Saturday and Sunday mornings on photo walks. He ...Read more

Ask Dating Coach Erika: When should you ask about their financial situation?
A question I occasionally get (though, not too often since I mainly work with people in the very early stages of meeting and new relationships) is this: “When should I ask the person I’m dating about their finances?”
This has been especially relevant lately in light of the movie "Materialists" out right now about a matchmaker is ...Read more
Millennial Life: Dear America - There's Still Hope for Us
Dear America: The Fourth of July was hard this year. The flags still waved, the fireworks still cracked across the sky, but it's an empty celebration when Congress voted for millions to lose health care, when people cheer for humans to be eaten by alligators, and where masked people disappear people off the street, the work site, while gardening...Read more

Ask Anna: My partner uses AI for emotional support instead of me
Dear Anna,
I've been with my girlfriend for eight months, and I'm starting to feel like I'm competing with her phone for her attention — but not in the way you'd expect. She's become obsessed with AI chatbots. At first I thought it was just a novelty thing, but now when she's stressed about work, upset with her family, or even excited about ...Read more
Single File: Sexual Bill of Rights
Sexual expression is part of mental and physical well-being. On that, we agree. And as a single person, you also know how important it is to feel caring and commitment from a partner. The truth is that sexual union has the potential to be spiritual communion. Only when it joins soul mates can it express that high level of togetherness. It is ...Read more

Ask Dating Coach Erika: Was 'Materialists' accurate?
As a professional in the dating industry, I received a lot of questions over the last week or so about what I thought about the new movie "Materialists." IMDB describes the movie as, “A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.” But, I was less interested in the plot of the ...Read more

Elite dating services are thriving as love defies economic woes
Frustrated with dating apps, singles are are shelling out for high-end matchmaking.
“We had our biggest month of sales in the history of the company last month, and we’ve been around for 15 years,” Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of the matchmaking service Three Day Rule says. “Our business is not shrinking.”
And he’s not alone. Demand ...Read more
Single File: Be Good to Yourself
I just happen to be reading my own book (titled "Single File," for those of you who haven't done the same) and find myself lingering at the section "Be good to Yourself." This is an issue dear to my heart because to this day, the stereotype lingers of the unmarried as utterly selfish and navel-watching. To be sure, there's much unraveling of ...Read more

Ask Dating Coach Erika: Questions about ghosting, goals
Today, let’s look at two different questions from two different clients. As always, if one person asks, I can only assume it is applicable to a larger audience. And, interestingly enough, you’ll see that these questions are applicable to any gender and any age.
Question:
I am convinced that online dating is haunted, based upon my ...Read more

Ask Anna: Hookup culture burnout and unavailable crush cycles: Pride edition
Dear Anna,
I'm a 38-year-old gay man living in a midsize city, and I'm completely exhausted by the dating scene here. It feels like every guy I meet on the apps is only interested in hooking up, and when I suggest actually going on a date or getting to know each other first, they either ghost me or tell me I'm "too serious." I've tried being ...Read more

Date like a 'Love Islander': Tips from a casting event
ATLANTA -- “Love Island USA’s” Pop-Up Villa stopped by Atlanta’s Park Tavern recently, and whether you’re entering your dating era or you’re just a fan of the popular show, the free event offered more than a chance to audition.
We spoke with casting director Jodi Thomas to get her thoughts on dating trends, red flags and what really...Read more
Millennial Life: In a Village with Two Houses, Be the Right House
There once was a village with two houses.
The first house always kept an extra chair at the table. Not for anyone in particular, just in case. A neighbor, a traveler, a soul in need of soup. None of the chairs were especially decorative; they all had a place at the table's edge. And if someone new sat in one or the other, the host never asked ...Read more

Ask Amy: Exiting with some well-worn wisdom
Dear Readers: Since announcing my departure from writing this syndicated column, I have heard from scores of people across various platforms, thanking me for more than two decades of offering advice and wishing me well in my “retirement.” I am very touched and grateful for this outpouring of support.
The thing is – I don’t think of ...Read more
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