•This is a guest post
There’s no denying it – online dating can feel like somewhat of a slog. Endless dates that don’t go anywhere, ghosting (although to be fair – that happens with offline dating too!), never being sure if the person’s profile is aligned to their real life persona, never even getting to the stage where you meet the person face-to-face!
Many people can feel like it’s a waste of time and become despondent.
So, this guest post is designed to get straight to the point on how to approach online dating with a curious and explorative mindset. Ultimately, how to make it as stress free and fun as possible!
Let’s get straight on with the tips.
● Don’t Knock It Until You’re Sure
Don’t let anyone peer pressure you into signing up for any dating sites. I was told by friends a long time ago to sign up for a site because they thought I needed it and honestly, I didn’t feel the need for it then at all. So, don’t let anyone force you into signing up because if you aren’t interested, you will get bored soon and wonder why it’s not working. Get into the proper headspace before jumping on this ship because if you lose interest, the whole fun part of online dating is missing.
● Work on Your Profile
The profile is everything, and you have to work on it since first impressions are everything. If you need some help, you can go through this best tinder bios article and you can use it on your profile on any online dating app.
Use a good photo, choose the right words for your bio and keep it interesting because after all, people will like you only when that bio catches their eye.
Keep your bio concise but interesting, and perhaps consider spending a little extra cash on getting the perfect photos - first impressions are everything. I mention my interests and hobbies in my bio because sometimes, these little details can start some great conversations.
● Don’t Be Dishonest
Your bio has to contain the truth, if not the whole of it, then some of it, and lying is a strict no-no, on your end and theirs. I remember going on a date with a guy who said he liked Games of Thrones, and I was excited since I’m a fan and I thought this date would be fun and we could discuss some common fan theories. But turns out, he lied on his bio and thought he’d be interesting if he said so on his profile.
Now, I know this isn’t a big lie and not watching a popular show isn’t a huge deal breaker, but he didn’t have to lie to look interesting to people and then get caught in his lie—no one likes that.
● Have Fun with Your Profile
That been said, don’t forget to keep your bio fun, after all, who likes reading a boring profile? Don’t just say, “Hi, I am Miley, I am 25 and I work as a banker”, it is so dull and it doesn’t even say who you are properly! Show some personality, show your fun side, mention your interest and even if it’s a quirky interest, who knows who might be attracted by that?
Don’t be too serious, you’re here to have fun, and I did learn this the hard way when I realized my brief, dry description wasn’t getting me any likes, and soon as I switched it up, I got to talk with some really cool people.
● Indulge Your Curiosity
You can’t be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone every now and then. If someone looks interesting, even though if you think they aren’t your type, you don’t know how the date will end. I remember going on a date with this guy who collected vintage movie posters and did you know that Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo movie poster had hand-drawn typography inspired by German movies from the 20s? As an art enthusiast and mystery movie lover, this tidbit of information led to a second date at a screening of Vertigo that I enjoyed very much.
I’m not a classic movie person much, but now I have bookmarked Casablanca and I can’t wait to watch it.
● Know What You Want
This is so crucial; you need to know what you want. You need to establish your boundaries and you need to let people know what your limits are as well. My teenage years were over, so now in my thirties, I knew what I wanted and most importantly, I knew what I didn’t want. This saved me a lot of trouble, I could understand right away which conversations weren’t happening and which dates won’t lead to anything else. I was here to have fun, but that didn’t mean that I couldn’t pick and choose.
● Learn to Handle Rejections
Rejection sucks, there are no two ways around it and I feel like it doesn’t stop stinging like a something spicy getting in your eye. You pretend it doesn’t bother you, but it does and no amount of cold water washes it away, but you learn to handle it. You have to learn how to handle it because as the old saying goes, there’s plenty of fish in the sea.
Things can be a huge hit or miss when you start online dating and there will be good days, good dates and then there will be dates that will be the fodder for stories to share with your friends at three in the morning. Maybe, try it out and you never know - the outcome might surprise you! Remember, mindset is everything.