Exclusive | Fake it til you make out:Gen Z New Yorkers are going on practice dates with people they dont evenlike

Dating used to be about finding “the one.” Now, for some Gen Z singles, it’s about getting in their reps.A growing number of young New Yorkers and Zoomers nationwide are admitting they’re going on “practice dates” with potential suitors they don’t find attractive — all in the name of becoming better daters.Think of it as emotional cardio.Instead of holding out for a dream match on Hinge, some singles are swiping right on people they wouldn’t normally pursue and meeting up for low-stakes drinks, coffee dates or casual walks around the city.The goal is simple: sharpen flirting skills, build confidence, overcome dating anxiety, and learn how to navigate awkward conversations before someone they’re genuinely excited about comes along.After all, many argue that when you’re sitting across from someone you’re wildly attracted to, nerves can take over — making it harder to be yourself and easier to fumble what could have been a great connection.Christina Psaras, 26, of Chicago, says wanting to go on “practice dates” with men she might not be fully attracted to is a natural response to the exhausting realities of app dating.With an endless stream of profiles, messages and matches at their fingertips, singles can burn out faster than ever — making it easier to put “sky-high expectations on every first date.”That’s why Psaras has adopted a different mindset.“Going on a ‘practice date’ with someone who isn’t really your type helps you let go of unrealistic expectations for a date,” she told The Post.“It lowers the bar, and you’re less likely to project fantasies onto the person.”And it’s hardly a new concept.

For decades, friends, parents and well-meaning relatives have urged singles to go on dates they weren’t entirely excited about — if only for the experience, or to get a little “practice.” Remember when Carrie Fisher’s character kept pulling eligible bachelors from her Rolodex for Meg Ryan in “When Harry ...