Taking a Break
- Saturday, February 04 2012 @ 10:44 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 4,395
Taking that first step into the world of online dating can be exhilarating - exciting and a little scary. It’s not uncommon, however, to reach a point where the luster wears off, especially if the responses have been less than expected. It might be tempting to just walk away for awhile. And really, that’s not always a bad idea.
Sure, it can be a fine line between taking a breather and throwing a hissy fit. Sometimes people do try out online dating with unreasonable expectations. But sometimes you really do hit a dry spell, or you’re feeling burned out from the search. That’s a totally normal feeling, and you’d do yourself a disservice to go through the motions of online dating if you’re not really feeling it. Or, to put it another way: Would you want to meet someone with whom you have real chemistry while you’re exhausted and in a bad mood?
If you do choose to take a break from online dating, try to be responsible about it: take down your profile. You don’t want to be known as “That person who keeps popping up in my searches, but hasn’t logged on in three months.” Eventually, they’ll stop clicking on you altogether. Later, if you decide to come back, having to re-post your profile will be a good reminder to proofread it and make sure all the information is up-to-date.
Just because you aren’t actively seeking out dates doesn’t mean that you should pull your head out of the game completely. Remember, skills like small talk are just that - skills, which need to be brushed up every so often. Plus, online sites aren’t the only venue in which you might meet someone compatible! Conversely, some people feel the need to disconnect completely from dating while they’re on a break. Only you know what’s right for you.
Online dating is intended to make your life easier, and raise the chances of finding someone with whom you can make a connection. It shouldn’t be a main source of extra stress. If you need to take a break and let the excitement return, do so. Just remember: you probably didn’t join for the “sport” of dating alone (which can be stressful at the best of times), but for the goal of finding a new relationship. It’s up to you to decide the best way to achieve your goals. And the nice thing about online dating? If you decide it really is for you, it will be right there waiting when you’re ready to return.
Sure, it can be a fine line between taking a breather and throwing a hissy fit. Sometimes people do try out online dating with unreasonable expectations. But sometimes you really do hit a dry spell, or you’re feeling burned out from the search. That’s a totally normal feeling, and you’d do yourself a disservice to go through the motions of online dating if you’re not really feeling it. Or, to put it another way: Would you want to meet someone with whom you have real chemistry while you’re exhausted and in a bad mood?
If you do choose to take a break from online dating, try to be responsible about it: take down your profile. You don’t want to be known as “That person who keeps popping up in my searches, but hasn’t logged on in three months.” Eventually, they’ll stop clicking on you altogether. Later, if you decide to come back, having to re-post your profile will be a good reminder to proofread it and make sure all the information is up-to-date.
Just because you aren’t actively seeking out dates doesn’t mean that you should pull your head out of the game completely. Remember, skills like small talk are just that - skills, which need to be brushed up every so often. Plus, online sites aren’t the only venue in which you might meet someone compatible! Conversely, some people feel the need to disconnect completely from dating while they’re on a break. Only you know what’s right for you.
Online dating is intended to make your life easier, and raise the chances of finding someone with whom you can make a connection. It shouldn’t be a main source of extra stress. If you need to take a break and let the excitement return, do so. Just remember: you probably didn’t join for the “sport” of dating alone (which can be stressful at the best of times), but for the goal of finding a new relationship. It’s up to you to decide the best way to achieve your goals. And the nice thing about online dating? If you decide it really is for you, it will be right there waiting when you’re ready to return.
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