So you've spent the last few months moping around, drowning yourself in beer or Ben & Jerry's, convinced you'll never fall in love again.
But with friendly persuasion, a few helpful hints and the threat that none of your friends will call you ever again unless
you get off your ass and back on the horse, you've decided to give dating another go around.
Welcome back to the game. Now listen up. Nothing is harder than jumping back into the fire once you've been burned. We know that.
But dating doesn't have to be scary. It can actually be a lot of fun, if you approach it that way.
Who cares if you crash and burn as long as you have a good time. Practice makes perfect. Keep some of these mantras in mind while
you're amping yourself up to get back out there and see what the world has to offer. And try a few of these tips on for size to
make the dating scene a lot less scary . and a whole lot easier.
Watch one of those terrible dating shows
Not to scare you off of dating forever. Look, editors and directors get paid big bucks to make shows like Blind Date and TK
look like absolute nightmares, and chances are unless you're truly unlucky, you wont wind up on a date with anyone half as
creepy as some of the freaks they dig up for TV. Sit back, relax, and watch some truly pitiful people humiliate themselves
for their shot at 15 minutes of fame. Then take heart in the knowledge that dating could be worse . a lot worse.
Figure out a couple favorite restaurants, places to spend time.
One of the major things that stresses a person out about a first date is trying to figure out what to do. So before you even
ask someone out, why not come up with a few restaurants you love to eat at, a few activities you might spend a Saturday doing,
maybe a bar you'd like to grab a night cap at. If you have in your mind an answer for every possible date, you won't be at a
loss and trying to rack your brain for something fun in the heat of the moment.
Delete your exes e-mails, store away letters, put away photos
You don't have to forget about your ex. But nothing's harder than trying to move on and have fun with someone new when the
constant reminder of your last relationship is hanging over your head. Just clear some space around you for someone new to
come into your life, which means not having things that constantly jog your memory of someone old blocking someone new.
Tell your friends you're back on the market
Not so they can hook you up with that extra hot co-worker they've been trying to pawn off on someone for the last year.
Because saying it out loud and getting it out there makes it that much easier for you to actually do it. It's amazing
what you can put into motion just by getting to idea into other people's minds.
Browse the Internet
Consider the Web the ultimate in dating catalogues. Browse through a couple of dating sites, visit a chat room or two,
sit down and create a profile that brings out the best in you. You don't have to ask out the first person who catches
your eye, but what better way to see what's out there than from the privacy and safety of your own home.
Catch Up on the News
It's always good to have an ice breaker or two you can whip out if you need to. Catching up on the news, the latest
entertainment gossip, any sort of common ground type conversation you and a date can both weight in on is good to have
in your corner pocket.
Go on a dry run
If it's been a while since you've been on a date and you're extra nervous about what to say, what to do, where to go,
why not try going on a dry run. Pick a friend (preferably one who'll play along and give you the straight up truth on
how you're doing), pick a restaurant, a park for a picnic - what ever your idea of a perfect date might be - and dive
on in. It wont be exactly the same as a real date, but at least you can get some feedback on your choice of locale,
attire, conversation.
Pick a Person and Pop the Question
Now that you're armed with enough background to jump on in and make this happen, why not just do it. Whether it's
someone you met online, a co-worker you've been pining for or someone you happen upon in a bar or a restaurant, go
for it. Nothing cures the dating blues like actually going out there and getting your feet wet. If the first person
says no, try again.
And finally.
Have fun
Dating shouldn't be torture, it should be fun. Consider this an adventure, and you're just collecting research.
Meeting new people, trying new things. So what if some of them don't work out. One will eventually, and until then,
just consider yourself along for the ride.
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