If you’re waiting until January 1st, 2017 to give your online dating life a makeover, you’re doing it all wrong. There’s still a few really great weeks left in 2016, so why not make the most of them?
If you’re hoping to get the most out of online dating, here’s a few tips that will help you finish your dating year strong and begin 2017 on a high-note.
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Forgo the concept that “no one dates over the holidays.”
If you’re still stuck on the idea that online dating slows to a halt over the holiday season, you need to get that out of your head immediately. We’re actually in the midst of peak online dating season. If you’re looking for a relationship, the beginning of November through New Year’s is actually a great time to be single. As the weather chills and the holiday cheer hits, people tend to be in relationship mode. Take advantage of this and see what’s out there.
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Stop complaining and take action.
Being single over the holidays can feel challenging, especially if your friends are paired off and spending time with their partners. However, sitting around and moping isn’t going to change anything. So, instead of feeling bad, take some action. Go online. Message some new matches. Ask someone out. Go on a date or two. You may strike out or you may not, but at least you’ve taken a risk and put yourself out there – and this, my friend is something to be proud of. Heck, you may even have fun in the process!
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Bring fun and romance into your life, even if you’re single.
You don’t need to have a significant other to have a fun and romantic holiday season. Buy yourself a beautiful flower arrangement just because. Rally your other single friends and initiate a night out together. Plan a friend date where you do something seasonal (I.e. grab some warm drinks and go skating outdoors.) Relish in the beautiful lights. Volunteer your time. Write yourself a letter that outlines all of your favorite moments from the past year and includes your hopes for the year to come. Bringing light and joy into your life is good for the soul, period (and yes, all this positivity will trickle down into your dating life!)
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Plan a stereotypical holiday-themed date.
From romantic hayrides and outdoor skating to spiked hot chocolate, there’s certain things that you can only really do this time of the year. Take advantage of everything the holiday season has to offer and plan a fun winter themed date. Check out a holiday farmers market or indie craft fair. Grab some warm cider. Go skating to cheesy Christmas carols. Take a walk together to view all the decorations. Lean into it and have fun.
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Give your online dating profile a once-over.
A lot can change in a year. Grab some peppermint tea or a glass of scotch, cozy up and look through your online dating profile. Does it still feel current and fresh? Are there photos you could update? Do you have any holiday themed shots that you could add into the mix? Far too often, we put up an online profile and then never really update it. It looks fine to us, so why should we mess with a good thing, right? However, even if you don’t plan on changing a thing, it never hurts to give it the once over before the New Year rolls around.
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If you’re interested message them back.
Sure, the holidays are a busy time for everyone but that doesn’t mean you can’t show someone you’re interested in them. When there’s lots going on, time is of the essence. If you think you might like someone, stop “playing it cool” and message them back already. Don’t waste people’s time. Show your interest by being punctual and timely. You never know, you might just be able to squeeze in a date amidst all the holiday hub bub.
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Stop beating yourself up.
Maybe this hasn’t been your year and got your heart stomped on a bunch, or you’re just feeling disillusioned with dating. Whatever it is, it’s totally normal to feel disappointed with your love life, as long as you make sure that you’re also being kind to yourself. So stop blaming yourself for everything that went wrong and instead give yourself a big high-five. Dating is tough but you’re getting through it. Have some celebratory egg-nog and toast to the upcoming New Year.
