When you’re 40 years old and up, dating isn’t quite as easy as it was when you were younger. You may have children, have substantial debt, gone through a messy divorce; it is safe to say that by now you’ve probably got yourself a nice set of luggage.
With all of that said, dating at this age can actually prove to be easier than people believe because you are, more or less, who you will be for the rest of your life. You won’t be going through any large changes and you pretty much know what you do and don’t want in a partner.
In an effort to help singles over 40 realize how thrilling dating can be at this stage in their lives, here are some do’s and don’ts that will help you solidify your place on the dating scene.
Do’s:
- Do try online dating. Online dating websites have become one of the best ways to meet new people. It is probably the only avenue you can go down that has the potential to introduce you to millions of people without ever having to step foot outside of your home.
- Do pay attention to romance. Honey, you’re 40—you aren’t dead yet! This means that you should make sure that you feel a romantic attraction to someone that you’re dating, and not just a physical attraction. Let’s face it, you could be seeing an Adonis or an Aphrodite, but you’re not a god and your looks will fade.
- Do hang out in the right places. If you aren’t interested in trying online dating, you should frequently visit places where people you want to date hang out. This means you may have to spend a little time outside of your comfort zone, but in the end it’ll be worth it!
Don’ts:
- Don’t date too young. We understand that you want someone who will keep you feeling young and invigorated, which is completely fine. However, you don’t want to date someone who is significantly younger than you. Sure, they may look pretty, but what do they really have in common with you? A good rule of thumb would be not to date someone young enough to be your kids.
- Don’t settle, EVER. You may feel pressured to fall in love pretty quickly because you aren’t a spring chicken anymore. However, in your haste to find a long term match, you could be missing out on some quality people. What’s more than that, you could also settle on someone who is completely wrong for you.
- Don’t change your wants or needs. You’ve gone through your life with a specific set of things you require in a partner and things you will not accept in a relationship or in a partner. Because you are set in your ways and you’ve had your experiences with previous partners who weren’t your ideal, you owe it to yourself to find the person who has all the qualities you desire in a partner.