Dating can be tiring and exasperating, to say the least…

Getting tired of dating online?

Dating can be tiring and exasperating, to say the least. To those taking full advantage of the online medium, it is not unreasonable to be going on several dates in one week. After going on all these dates, it is also not unreasonable to grow jaded, become tired, and pessimistic regarding the likelihood of finding a true match on one of the online dating sites.

First of all, it is easy to start questioning one’s expectations and standards. After going out with many different people and realizing that while some people are almost right, no one seems to be exactly right. At this point, doubts can begin to flood: “am I being too picky?” or “am I expecting something unreasonable?” “maybe this is what love is and movies have confused my grasp of reality?”

An untold secret, or rather, evaded truth is that pickiness is important. This usually goes unmentioned since many times, people will be picky about the wrong things. However, while coming in with too specific of demands may be harmful to any budding relationship, looking for a genuine, unique connection actually requires pickiness. Forge on!

So how does one continue to enjoy dates and avoid the feeling of having gone on “too many?” It would be important to remember that dates are fun. They are nights out after a difficult day or week at work. Dates are not another job; by choosing activities or restaurants that one hasn’t yet gotten around to, the date is being set for success. In other words, it should initially be the fun-factor and not marriage potential that serves as the gauge of a night out. Use dates as an opportunity to not only get to know another person, but to get to know the city, the food, and the sites around. Go on walks, pretend to be a tourist, grab drinks with a view. It is actually quite simple: choose what is enjoyable and enjoy!

There are several benefits to treating dates as a fun endeavor. First of all, if an individual anticipates the date as a fun activity to which they are looking forward, they will be more relaxed and happy on the date. Secondly, this attitude will ensure an interactive dialogue as opposed to the dreaded job-interview date.

Time and time again we make the mistake of wanting to be done with dating. Dating is not the part we skip over as quickly as possible in order to “begin living.” While dating we are living. So it is best to enjoy it. Ultimately, doing so will nourish a better state of mind to make sound, mature, and intuitive decisions when meeting new people.