More Dating When You’re Over 50 (Or Over 20)

Let’s continue talking about dating tonight. I will link an excellent article for you that we can use to talk about tonight and while it is written for those over 50, much of it could also apply to those who are over 20. I want to hear from you if you think these will work or if you have found someone, what helped you through the often-uncomfortable venture into dating, especially if you hadn’t done it in a while.
Subscribe to Love Beyond The Sea whether you are younger or older and we can chat about what works and what doesn’t when trying to find love overseas. Get notifications by clicking the bell and let me hear your comments. The Community Corner message forums on the Word Press site are also a good place to comment and meet others to chat about finding love beyond the sea. From bestlifeonline.com-

26. Let someone know where you'll be going.
    If you're meeting someone for the first time, play it safe and let a friend or family member know where you'll be. At the very least, they can come rescue you if your date just isn't a good fit.
27. Try a new hobby.
    Having a hard time meeting new people? Try out a new hobby. Join a gym, take a pottery class, or hit up the dog park with your canine companion. These are all great ways to meet people who share your interests.
28. Practice your flirting IRL.
    If you feel like your flirting skills are a bit rusty, try practicing on someone first. That doesn't mean asking out the guy who took your order at Starbucks and told you to have a nice day. But you can—and should—test out a few compliments or smiling at a cute stranger to help boost your confidence and prepare you for the real thing.
29. Take more solo adventures.
    Being alone and being lonely don't have to be synonymous. If you want to expand your romantic horizons, try taking a solo vacation, going to museums by yourself, or just exploring the town or city you live in on your own. You never know who you might meet!
30. Make eye contact.
    You don't have to play coy with every new person you meet. Make sure you're giving good eye contact to whoever you're on a date with—it'll make them feel heard, respected, and more eager to learn about you, as well.
31. Don't push yourself to do things you don't enjoy.
    While it's not a bad idea to try new things if you're looking to meet people, don't force yourself to do activities you already know you don't like. If you've tried archery, speed-dating, or marathon training and found that they weren't good fits for you, pushing yourself to continue doing them will only make you miserable—and likely to meet people who don't share your interests.
32. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
    Who says you have to only date one person at a time just because you're over 50? Not every date is going to be a great match, so feel free to cast a wide net. There's no reason to feel guilty about going out with more than one person at a time before things get serious.
33. Try dating outside your "type."
    Even if you've always had a particular type, don't be afraid to try something new when you're back on the dating scene over 50. Just because you've only dated white collar professionals doesn't mean you won't have just as much fun with someone working in a trade. And when it comes to physical appearance, dating someone who doesn't look like your exes can be an exciting adventure in its own right.
34. Don't try to sound too young on your dating profile.
    You're over 50—so why are you trying to talk like a teen? Peppering your dating profile with millennial or Gen Z catch phrases will only make you seem out of touch.
35. Be honest about why your past relationships didn't work.
    Once you're in a relationship with someone, don't be shy about revealing why your past relationships didn't go the distance. While it's best not to be outright unkind about your ex, revealing that you had different priorities in terms of your family or your career can help you and your new partner determine if you can see your relationship lasting.
36. Listen to those gut instincts.
    If you've gotten a bad vibe from your date, don't brush it off. Those gut instincts are there to protect you, so if something feels off, don't feel bad about ending things.
37. Don't assume that younger or older people who are interested in you have an agenda.
    While it may seem a bit strange at first to have someone 20 years your junior or senior ask you out, don't assume that they have ulterior motives in doing so. Just because you've never dated outside your age range before doesn't mean that every younger person who wants to be with you is after your money, nor does it mean that someone older has a problem dating people their own age.
38. Protect yourself. I do not agree with this particular point in the article linked in description box
    Just because you're over 50 doesn't mean you can throw caution to the wind when it comes to your sexual health. While getting pregnant might not be as much of a concern as it was when you were younger, that doesn't mean it's not possible—and all the STIs that were around when you were dating in your teens and 20s are still around, too. So make sure you're using protection if you choose to get intimate.
39. Don't assume that marriage and kids are off the table.
    Even if you haven't gotten married or had kids by 50, there's no reason to rule them out entirely. There are plenty of couples who tie the knot or have kids later in life. If those things are important to you, don't be shy about making that known when you start getting serious with someone.
40. Allow yourself to have fun.
    That said, there's no reason to feel like your relationships have to be serious just because you're getting older. If you want to have a few casual flings or if you never see yourself getting married, that's more than fine—just be honest about these things with the people you're dating.
41. Try not to compare your new relationship with your previous ones.
    
    Whether you think your former spouse is a virtual saint or a monster, it never pays to compare your current relationship to your old one. Every relationship is different, and telling your new partner the ways they're better than your ex—or cataloging the things they don't do that your ex always did—will only make them feel like they can never measure up.
42. Cast expectations aside.
    In practice, dating after 50 can be very different than it was earlier in life. Health issues, complicated families, and different wants and needs can make dating feel like a totally different ballgame than it was in your 20s and 30s. So try to cast those expectations aside once you put yourself out there again.
43. Don't be surprised if you get a little giddy.
    Those butterflies in your stomach? That impulse to check your phone to see if they've texted? All totally normal. Just because you're older doesn't mean you shouldn't be just as excited about meeting someone great as you were in high school.
44. Don't immediately introduce them to friends and family.
    You may be excited to meet that aforementioned someone, great, but don't assume that every relationship is going to be a lasting one. It can be awkward to feel like you're pushing your date into in your inner circle, so wait until you're certain you're on the same page about your relationship before having him or her meet your family and friends.
45. Don't downplay your accomplishments.
    Playing dumb or making light of your achievements is no way to start a relationship. If you're proud of your career, your hobbies, or the children you've raised, don't feel obligated to say otherwise to impress your date. Anyone worth seeing again will think it's exciting to discover what you're passionate about.
46. Don't ditch your standards.
    Just because you're older doesn't mean you have to give up your standards when it comes to dating. You're still a catch, and the people you go out with should be, too. So, that person who suggested you drop a few pounds, belittled your career, or acted like they were doing you a favor by dating you can just slink back off to whatever hole they crawled out of.
47. Ask them out again if you had a good time.
    Even if you didn't make the first move, that doesn't mean you can't make the second one! If you had a great time with someone, go ahead and drop "So when can I see you again?" into the conversation.
48. Get back in touch the day after your date.
    Playing games isn't cute at 20 and it's definitely not a good look at 50. If you had a good time on your date, let them know! There's no need to stick to that ancient "three-day rule."
49. But don't feel obligated to go on a second date if the first didn't work out.
    Didn't feel a connection with your date? Don't waste your time—or theirs—by going on a second one. No matter what your age, there are plenty of fish in the sea, and there's someone out there who you will find that connection with.
50. Enjoy the journey.
    The most important thing to remember when you're dating over 50? This is supposed to be fun, so try to enjoy yourself!
    
    This has been 50 dating tips for people of any age really, that you can employ when looking for Love Beyond The Sea.