Member-only story
Has the Ick Ruined Your Holiday Romance?
You had a summer fling — it gave the holidays a rosy glow.
There was instant chemistry, better-than-average sex; you both loved getting out into nature, hiking and mountain biking. It seemed promising, like it just might work in Real Life.
But now you’re back at work, facing deadlines and time is precious. Your summer fling keeps sending stupid Insta reels when you’re trying to work, they’re obsessed with their dog, they have a loud snorty laugh.
You know you’re being picky but the magic of summer is fading fast. Have you developed the post-holiday ick?
When the holiday bubble bursts
A phrase that has embedded itself in dating culture, “the ick” refers to the loss of romantic or sexual interest in someone you were once attracted to.
It develops when the person you’re seeing does something quite trivial, or simply reveals more of themselves to you: a habit, a look, a quirk or a trait. Suddenly, you can’t look at them the same way; it can range from a feeling of discomfort to disgust — and you look for a way out.
The ick usually shows up early in a relationship, before you are fully commited. But the relaxed nature of holidays provides a cushion, making it easier for a new bond to flourish away from the…
