How Will You Know When It’s Time To Get Back In The Game?
There are plenty of reasons to take a break from dating: whether you’re recently out of a long-term relationship, currently looking for a job, or are just simply fed up with meeting nothing but creeps and losers, sometimes stepping back from your quest for romance is the best thing you can do. But how do you know when it’s time to actually get back on the horse? Unless you want to stay single forever, eventually you have to commit to putting yourself out there again.
Here are some clear indications that it’s time to start looking for love:
Your dating skills are atrophying
Sure, some people are more gifted with natural talent than others (i.e. charm; good looks, approachability, etc.), but you didn’t think I was merely born a genius Dating Expert, did you? Dating requires skills that must be practiced, and taking too much time off from the scene will leave you rusty. Fortunately, dating is kind of like riding a bike: you’ll be comfortable once again after a couple of wobbly starts, but you’ve gotta hop on every so often to remember what it’s like.
You’re over your ex-
Some break-ups can inflict some serious harm, and it can take time for the wounds to heal into scars. But as soon as you are no longer thinking about your ex-boyfriend or – girlfriend every waking moment, and are able to hold a conversation with a potential partner without feeling distracted, disappointed, or like you’re going to puke, you need to get back out there, champ!
You feel stable in all other aspects of your life
Occupational, financial, and personal stability are crucial to becoming a desirable romantic partner.
No one wants to date a guy or gal who doesn’t have his or her s*** together. So now that you’ve found happiness in these categories of your life, wouldn’t it be nice to share all of that success with someone?
Your days have become monotonous
Of course, too much stability can be a bad thing. If each day, you see the same handful of people, do the same few activities, and barely leave your house with little variation to your plans, be careful: you could very easily fall into a depression that’s quite difficult to get out of. It’s important to have continual contact with the outside world, where you’ll create new memories with new characters every week.
You’re excited about the prospect of finding love
Yes, the thought of dating again after a long hiatus can be a terrifying prospect, indeed – but you can’t let a little bit of (totally normal) fear stop you. If you’re no longer feeling super pessimistic, and are once again experiencing excitement about dating… go with it! Your enthusiasm should be enough to get you through any potential awkwardness or discomfort on your first few exhilarating dates.
