If You Have Been Out of the Dating Game, Read This Before Jumping Back In
Dating. It is a big word that is loaded with possibility and fraught with potential pitfalls and obstacles. It can be an exciting time that gives you butterflies in your stomach at the prospect of finding someone wonderful to spend your time with. It can also be a topic that leaves you stressed out and frustrated over the possibility of not finding your special someone. Make a change to how you move forward in the dating world by embracing these helpful tips and making the process easier and more comfortable than ever before.
Put Yourself Out There
In order to get a date, you need to make it known that you are ready for the possibility of meeting someone special. The first step is to put yourself out into the dating universe. Start by telling your friends and family members about your intentions. Be cautious, however, with who you choose to share this information with as they may become overzealous or overstep boundaries and try to set you up with everyone from the person they are standing in front of at the grocery checkout line or their hairdresser’s cousin once removed.
From there, your next act should be to create profiles on popular dating apps. Online dating is an easy way to sift through potential short or long-term dating partners from the convenience of your smartphone. These dating apps allow you to make a profile that puts forth only the information you want to go public. You can curate the content to reflect your honest personality or only share a little bit of information at first.
When it comes to selecting a photo or carousel of pictures to put on your profile, it can be frustrating to find ones that you are comfortable sharing with others. Make it easy by harnessing the power of technology. Use a program that embraces artificial intelligence, such as AI Tinder photos. This technology can filter out your perceived flaws, hide or blur identifying or unflattering background images, and show people exactly what you want them to see about you.
Prepare for the Date
Preparing for any date is not a quick endeavour. Instead, you will want to block out time to make sure you will look and feel your best about the experience. You never need to portray yourself in the image of a so-called reality dating show contestant. Be your true self, but give yourself time. Do a dry run of the date night outfit try-on. That way, if you have had any changes in your body size or shape, you will know what does and does not fit and be able to adapt with time and confidence instead of a stressful last-minute attempt at a fix.
The same goes for hair and makeup if you are putting an effort into those areas. Be confident in how you present your appearance. Try not to stray too far from your everyday hair and makeup products. That way, you will feel comfortable instead of wondering who is staring back in the mirror when you step away to use the bathroom during dinner.
One way to get ready for your upcoming date (or dates) is to take time to consider what you will say. While you do not want to enter into any dating situation with the requisite preparation that is generally reserved for a job interview, you should think about topics of conversation and questions to ask the person sitting across the table from you. A little bit of prep can help you relax and may prevent oversharing that sometimes occurs when you are nervous.
Watch this short video to learn about a handful of questions you can ask on your next date.
Pick a Neutral Location or Activity
Dating is about getting to know the person you are paired with. If they suggest an activity like roller skating (it could happen) that leaves you feeling unsure about the match, be honest and let your date know that the suggested activity is not one you enjoy (unless you are into it). How they respond will tell you a lot about their personality. They may have been trying to be imaginative and creative, or they really like the proposed entertainment for the date. Either way, it is one more piece of information you have, and you can decide if you want to counter with another activity or cancel the date and move on to the next person.
If your date offers one idea and you veto it, do not expect them to be the sole activity planner for your upcoming date. Take initiative and take ownership of the date’s potential successes. To use roller skating as an example, once again, if you want to do something different, suggest a hike in the foothills followed by a picnic at the beach so you benefit from some fresh air and exercise either way.
Remember That It Is OK to Take a Pause
If you have been on a few dates with a great person, or perhaps there has been a bad run of not-so-great dates with one person after another, if you are not feeling good about yourself or the current dating scene right now, you can opt out for a while.
The first thing you should do is put your online dating profiles on pause, mute, or delete them altogether, at least for a little while. There is nothing wrong with stepping back if you are not feeling good about the dating experience or current prospects, and you should never feel guilty about your decision to take a break.
When you are ready to get back out there and dip your toes in the dating pool, take your time and plan accordingly to ensure you are putting yourself in the best light possible while trying to have the best experience you can. All your planning and efforts will help you find the one you want to have fun with for a while or the one you want to grow old with.
