Maybe it’s that many of us have been raised on movies like The Notebook or My Girl where summer romance is at the forefront, but there’s something about dating in the summer that just feels more fun. A healthy dose of warm weather and sunshine puts many of us in the mood for love. Although statistically speaking winter is actually the busiest time for online dating; summer is the perfect time to get out there and meet new people (one of whom, just might be the one you’re looking for!)

Here’s a few reasons why online dating gets better in the summer –

1. People are wearing less clothes –

There, I said it. I don’t mean this in a creepy way, however think about it – when are you more in the mood to date: when you and everyone around you are bundled in parkas, or during tank top and sundress season? During the summer months, we’re way more likely to get out of the house and be more active; which leads to increased energy and better moods brought on by endorphins. In other words, many of us just feel better during the summer. Why not capitalize on all these feel-good vibes and use them to your advantage? Summer is the perfect time to meet new people and plan some really fun dates. The fact that your date might show up in a really cute sundress is just an added bonus.

2. Fun date ideas abound –

Bored with your typical coffee, drinks and/or dinner dates that you’ve been going on all winter? Don’t give up! Fun date ideas abound in summer. Instead of grabbing a coffee at the Starbucks you always go to, suggest to your date that you enjoy a latte and a croissant at that local coffee shop that has a great patio. If you’re tired of going out for dinner at the same five places that you always go to, why not mix it up? Invite your date to come sample the eats from a couple of different local food trucks or grab some fish tacos by the pier. Anything you can do that gets you in the fresh air and outside of your normal comfort zone, is going to make online dating this summer that much more fun.

3. It’s way easier to impress your date –

One of the great things about online dating in the summer is that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to have a really great date. A lot of the fun activities mentioned above are also super affordable. Depending on where you live, summer brings a lot of free events: concerts, street-fairs, state fairs, art crawls – you name it. Tired of forking out tons of cash for ho-hum restaurant meals? Plan a fun and romantic picnic for you and your date (and remember, you can almost never go wrong with some food, a bottle of wine and a beach blanket.)

With a little bit of creativity and planning, it’s really easy to plan a date that’s not only super memorable but also cost effective this summer.

4. Summer is the perfect time to keep things casual –

If you’re reading this and thinking, “but it’s summer, I don’t want anything too serious” – that’s totally OK. If you’re just looking for something casual or to explore your options, summer is the perfect time to embrace this. Take a page from all of those summer romance movies – not everything has to last forever in order for it to be fun and enjoyable. If you’re not in the mood for anything serious, make it your goal to meet as many new and different people as possible this summer. Maybe one of them will turn out to be just the summer fling you’re looking for!

5. We’re all feeling a bit more social –

We’re biologically programmed to feel more social and ahem, frisky during the warmer months. This is in stark contrast to the winter months when many of us find ourselves hibernating under a pile of blankets, as another Game of Thrones episode plays in the foreground; only removing ourselves from our cocoon to socialize when it’s absolutely necessary. However, summer is the time of barbeques, fourth of July cook-outs, outdoor musical festivals and long days spent by the pool or the beach. Let this feeling inspire your dating life. Get out from behind your computer screen. Talk to new people. Making connections with people in real life is only going to make your online dating game even stronger.