Love can be tricky at any age, but it might seem like it only gets harder to make meaningful connections the older we get. You might find yourself reminiscing over your young and wild days, and feeling bitter that you don’t have those experiences anymore. But that need not be the case! More and more people are finding themselves heading back into the dating pool, and though you might feel past your prime or that you’ve had your days of fun, we’re here to tell you that being open and accepting to the ideas of romance is the only thing needed to achieve those feelings again.
So, how do you go about putting yourself back out there? This article has some great advice for people who want to begin dating but aren’t sure how to begin the process.
Branch Out of Your Comfort Zone
Some of you may be missing the attention and companionship that dating provides, but feel either you don’t want or have already achieved the meaningful connections in your romantic personal journeys.
In fact, you may even feel guilty to engage in casual dating given you are not prepared to commit in your current situation. This is normal, and there are different ways to engage in the dating lifestyle without compromising on your individual stance.
Prioritise Yourself
The most important thing to remember when you begin dating again is to not lose yourself in the process. Dating is scary, and you might feel the need to put on a façade, in order to feel more appealing and attractive. Pro tip – don’t. People are most magnetic when they are unequivocally themselves, and there’s nothing sexier that being confident in your own skin.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put your best foot forward, or take pride in your manners and appearance, but don’t consume yourself with trying to impress someone to the point you are not being authentic.
Try Dating Apps
In the modern age of technology, dating apps are the best platform to meet people you are compatible with and who want the same thing as you. Whether you want to try out a casual date, or look for something more serious, online dating is a fun, light-hearted way to begin chatting to new people. There are settings which allow you to decide the parameters of your desired dating pool.
Age, gender and distance are obvious categories which you may want to set boundaries for, and this filters the range of people you can encounter to those you will more likely be interested in. Other websites have more specific questions you can answer about yourself, like your interests, what type of partner you are looking for, your beliefs and even family values.
Get Involved in Your Community
If online approaches to dating aren’t your thing – don’t worry. The classic methods of courtship have not died out with the introduction of technology. While you may not want to head out to the nearest club and bar, there are still a myriad of places to meet new people and make connections. Coffee houses, bookstores, cafés and small businesses are great places to meet and converse with people who share your interests.
If these sound daunting, head to environments where the sole purpose is to bring people together – dance classes, gardening clubs, long walks and bird watching are all great activities to bond over. If you have a niche interest, or simply are intrigued by a community club or group – then join in! You don’t necessarily need to make romantic connections to make this leap, but you are more likely to find someone whose company you enjoy in an activity you both enjoy.
Moreover, joining clubs like these are brilliant for making social connections in areas you may not have had opportunity to do so in, and thus widens your scope. This is also a great use of time as it devotes some care into both your physical and mental wellbeing.
Have Fun!
One thing to take away from this article is that dating need not be such a serious and life altering endeavour. You can have so much fun forming new relationships, platonic, s**xual or romantic.
The nature and intimacy of the connections you make are entirely up to you, and can be found through many different methods and practices. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there – in fact, just enjoy the process!
