Beginning Anew: the Basics
- Thursday, February 07 2013 @ 06:57 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 919
It’s the start of a new year, and many people are using this time to reflect on areas of their lives they’d like to improve. If your love life is one of these areas, online dating might seem like a natural way to start doing something about it. Whether you’re just trying out a site for the first time or are just using the New Year to regroup and refresh, here are a few basic points to remember about online dating:
First, the best place to start is with yourself. You may not be able to control the outcome of a date, but you can work on your own happiness. Ask yourself the hard questions before you even begin. Are you hanging on to any old wounds from past relationships? Is there anything you can do to improve your self-confidence? What are you really looking for in a relationship?
Once you’ve done some soul-searching, it’s time to have fun with constructing your profile! Whether it’s brand-new or just brushed-up, a few points to look for include: Is it short and snappy, or have you written a novel? Have you avoided negative statements about others and yourself, and focused on the positive? When it comes to proofreading, have you given it time to “rest” and looked at it when you’re in a good mood? Have you considered having a friend or family member look it over?
Your picture doesn’t have to be perfect, but try to ensure that it’s recent, fairly accurate and clear. A genuine smile can often be more effective than a self-conscious one, even if it’s not as “pretty.” And a candid photo is often more interesting than a posed portrait, even if, again, it might not catch your best side. If you’re feeling nervous, consider: your date won’t get a carefully selected view of your face from only one angle, so why not save yourself the stress? Also remember you’re usually not limited to only one photo; several pictures can often tell a more honest tale while still being eye-catching.
Your user name can say a lot about you - just make sure you know what it’s saying! Using an old favorite screen name might not be the best idea if it’s all over the internet with your personal, private information attached. Think about the meaning behind your name: ones that are double entendres and innuendos might come across as a bit vulgar. And names that are generic with a number tacked on at the end are, frankly, forgettable. A name that is actually a simple phrase might just be your best bet at being found again.
Those are the basics for writing or refreshing a profile! If you’ve written one before, is there anything you’d forgotten? Whether or not you’re new to dating, hopefully the process is now a bit demystified - and you can focus on your new beginning!
First, the best place to start is with yourself. You may not be able to control the outcome of a date, but you can work on your own happiness. Ask yourself the hard questions before you even begin. Are you hanging on to any old wounds from past relationships? Is there anything you can do to improve your self-confidence? What are you really looking for in a relationship?
Once you’ve done some soul-searching, it’s time to have fun with constructing your profile! Whether it’s brand-new or just brushed-up, a few points to look for include: Is it short and snappy, or have you written a novel? Have you avoided negative statements about others and yourself, and focused on the positive? When it comes to proofreading, have you given it time to “rest” and looked at it when you’re in a good mood? Have you considered having a friend or family member look it over?
Your picture doesn’t have to be perfect, but try to ensure that it’s recent, fairly accurate and clear. A genuine smile can often be more effective than a self-conscious one, even if it’s not as “pretty.” And a candid photo is often more interesting than a posed portrait, even if, again, it might not catch your best side. If you’re feeling nervous, consider: your date won’t get a carefully selected view of your face from only one angle, so why not save yourself the stress? Also remember you’re usually not limited to only one photo; several pictures can often tell a more honest tale while still being eye-catching.
Your user name can say a lot about you - just make sure you know what it’s saying! Using an old favorite screen name might not be the best idea if it’s all over the internet with your personal, private information attached. Think about the meaning behind your name: ones that are double entendres and innuendos might come across as a bit vulgar. And names that are generic with a number tacked on at the end are, frankly, forgettable. A name that is actually a simple phrase might just be your best bet at being found again.
Those are the basics for writing or refreshing a profile! If you’ve written one before, is there anything you’d forgotten? Whether or not you’re new to dating, hopefully the process is now a bit demystified - and you can focus on your new beginning!
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