Love & Sex

With these 5 simple tricks, you can completely refresh your dating life.

By Sophie Rietmulder | #!30Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:30:31 +0200+02:003130#30Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:30:31 +0200+02:00-4Europe/Amsterdam3030Europe/Amsterdam202330 18pm30pm-30Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:30:31 +0200+02:004Europe/Amsterdam3030Europe/Amsterdam2023302023Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:30:31 +0200304304pmTuesday=9#!30Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:30:31 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam4#04-18-2023#!30Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:30:31 +0200+02:003130#/30Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:30:31 +0200+02:00-4Europe/Amsterdam3030Europe/Amsterdam202330#!30Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:30:31 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam4#

For most of my 20s, I spent time without a boyfriend. Yes, there were moments when I wished I had a relationship, but overall I was fine being single. I enjoyed my freedom and had a rich life with a nice job, wonderful friends, and a warm family. A big boy who still has something to complain about. Of course, I didn't spend those years completely alone; I had some nice dates here and there, but after a while, I became quite tired of dating. Repeating the same story to the Jelles and Maartens of the world, whom I had seen on Tinder a hundred times, and then ultimately swiping right only to find out they were all the same and I wasn't going to find the love of my life here: I became utterly exhausted from it. The bad news is that I don't think this experience will change quickly for the singles among us; the good news is that there is plenty to do to breathe new life into your single existence:

1. Take a dating break
It may seem logical to distance yourself from something that doesn't make you happy, but if you feel emotionally drained from dating, it's even more important to take a break. Dating can be emotionally exhausting, so it's important to keep a close eye on what all that dating is doing to you. So feel free to take a break and make a plan for how you want to approach dating in the future.

2. Develop a strategy for dating apps
Dating apps aren't going anywhere, and I know how tempting it is to reinstall that app with the flame on a lonely Friday night. In that case, it's helpful to give yourself a dating app strategy. For example, think about what your goal is on the app, how much time you want to spend on it each day, and make sure to remove time-wasters from your match list immediately. A tidy space is a tidy mind.

3. Meet people in real life
While dating apps are a fun pastime, they aren't the only way to find love. If dating apps aren't working for you, don't use them. Take it from me that these apps mainly drain your energy and you get very little in return, so I'm a big fan of this option. When wanting to meet someone in the wild, think about the type of person you want to meet, the qualities and interests of that person, consider where you might find someone who meets these criteria, and casually hang out in one of those places. Who knows what you might run into.

4. Prioritize self-care
Dating can impact your mental health, especially if you do it often. It's tempting to lose yourself in the modern dating jungle, so make sure you don't lose sight of the things that make you happy. Prioritize self-care by doing things that make you feel good, like exercising, meditating, or spending time with friends and family, and don't forget to take care of yourself first. This will help you feel more energized and ready to date when the time comes.

5. Come up with unique dates
Trying new and unique date activities can help maintain the excitement and thrill of first dates. It can be easy to fall into a dating rut by doing the same standard first date activities over and over again, which can lead to boredom and a lack of interest in continuing to date. By trying new and exciting things, dating can remain fresh and thrilling, which can lead to finding someone who truly matches you.

Source: Sunday Riley