50 is the new 40, or so they say.
In reality, 50 is still 50, but the dating game for those aged fifty and above has most definitely changed. If you were to go back ten, twenty, or maybe thirty years, then the idea of being 50 or over and being single might have felt akin to a death sentence, but fortunately, the world has moved on.
In 2022 a large number of people over 50 who are not married or in long-term relationships could be down to a number of factors; perhaps chief among them is the fact that people don’t feel the need or desire to stay in relationships that aren’t working.
Previously the idea of splitting up and being back on the shelf may have scared the life out of those over 50, but now the market is very much open for business, and as such, the temptation to find a new partner could prove very alluring.
To help you in such an endeavor, here are some tips for those over 50 looking to date.
Don’t Be Afraid to Use Dating Apps
Yes, we live in a modern world, so why not embrace it? While clearly most of those who use dating apps are those in the more youthful bracket, it’s worth noting that one of the fastest growing niches in the industry is those over the age of 50.
There are plenty of apps that cater to your specific needs. If you are looking for one of the best, then SilverSingles reviews are very promising indeed and well worth a look.
There are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dating apps, and millions of people trust their love life to the technology that helps pair us up, and when it comes to the niche market, they can be even more effective.
If you are over 50, the idea of just randomly bumping into the love of your life, or something far more short-term, is almost so unlikely as to be not unlike a lottery win. After all, the usual places you might meet someone will have reduced. You might not work in an office and perhaps don’t frequent bars and clubs as much as you used to.
Therefore signing up for an app and dating service that is specifically for those in your age range makes the chances of finding a partner infinitely more promising.
Stay In Shape
To be honest, staying in shape when you are over the age of 50 should be a given, but it’s doubly important if you want to get back on the dating horse. When we exercise and stay fit, we also greatly improve our moods, and that makes us far more amenable to potential partners, be they long-term or just a bit of harmless fun.
So, get back to the gym, start running, do whatever you can to make yourself happier, and, in turn, make it far more likely that you’ll appeal to a prospective dating partner. Also, it will make your dating app profile pic far more enticing.
Say Yes to Life
When you are over 50, you may have developed a way of living and thinking that could feel, from the outside (and maybe internally), as if you are shutting yourself off. We can become very set in our ways but actually, what you need to be doing if you are single and over the age of 50 is to start opening your horizons.
Try new things, find a hobby, get out more, and meet people, as this is the best way to find love or just friendship. If friends and family invite you to events, say yes; you never know who you might meet.
If the local community center is running a ‘singles,’ or, if relevant, a ‘divorce party’ night, what’s the worst that can happen? If not now, then when?
Don’t Rush Into Things
If you do meet someone in an organic situation or online, don’t feel the need to rush into things. Not every relationship you have later in life has to be ‘the one.’ It’s likely that you, and your prospective partner, have been around the block once or twice, and therefore there’s no benefit to brazenly taking things too swiftly.
Be honest about what you expect from your relationship; after all, you’ve both had life lessons to know what you want and don’t want. Honesty is most definitely the best policy.
It’s Okay to Just Have Fun
There is a sense, rightly or wrongly, that if you are over the age of 50 that dating means a long-term relationship. However, it doesn’t have to be the case. There’s no shame in just wanting to have fun and to have a fling or two.
Just so long as that’s clear from both parties, then there’s no downside to a short-term relationship. Indeed, a decent percentage of those who are single at the age of 50+ are those who are just getting out of a marriage or lengthy period with another partner, and therefore there may be a need to let off some steam, so to speak.
Forget Your Past
You’ve been around, been there, done it, and got the T-shirt. The way you look at dating will, of course, be informed by the way your love life has been up to the point where you are single and over 50. However, the past shouldn’t define you.
A common complaint among those over 50 who are looking to date is that the individual they are meeting for a date can’t stop talking about their previous relationships, and it’s a serious turn-off.
Also, for your own sake, dwelling on the past, especially if it’s not such a glorious one, isn’t going to help you get in the right frame of mind for meeting someone special.
Leave your past at the door, and close it.
