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What Is a ‘Sunset Clause’? The Dating Trend That Could Save You Months of Heartbreak.

Instead of letting relationships drift, singles are setting check-in deadlines to decide whether to commit or move on.

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In a highly non-commital dating world, it’s no wonder so many singles are creating rules, limits, and boundaries to protect their time and energy. As such, people are now using “sunset clauses” to ensure they’re not over-investing in a relationship that’s going nowhere. This mutually set deadline helps keep couples on track for a deeper commitment. Let’s dive in.

What Is a Dating ‘Sunset Clause’?

According to Mary McLaughlin, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker and couples therapist with more than 25 years of experience, “A sunset clause is essentially an agreement to pause at a predetermined point in the relationship and ask, ‘Do we want to continue, or is it time to move on?’”

“Evaluating a relationship is useful, especially since many couples never stop and intentionally talk about how the relationship is going,” she adds.

Of course, you don’t need to be quite so strict with your timeline, but keeping a general limit in mind will ensure you’re not wasting........

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