A divorce is a stressful time in your life. It can be frustrating, embarrassing and most of all, exhausting. After the divorce proceedings are over, you may be feeling all sorts of mixed emotions. The most important thing to keep in mind is this is the end of one chapter in your life, and the start of something new. For many, the thought of dating after a divorce can be very daunting at the very least. It may bring you some comfort to know that what you are feeling is completely normal.
To help you to get back out there and start dating, we have put some great tips on how to date after divorce. Follow these eight tips to get your love life back on track again:
1. Be patient
You shouldn’t rush to start dating someone new. If you are recently divorced you will be vulnerable even though you don’t want to admit it. Having recently split from your partner of many years it is best that you spend some time getting to know what it is like to be single before you dive right back into the dating scene.
2. Wait until your divorce is final
Waiting until your divorce is finalized will make first dates a lot easier. Patience is a virtue, especially regarding how to date after divorce. For many, the idea that you are still ‘technically’ married might put them off. If you choose to keep this to yourself, you are starting any new relationship off with a lie, which isn’t ideal.
3. Ask yourself what you want
This might be hard for many people as the idea of getting out there seems like the right thing to do. Asking yourself what you want out of your dating life can often have you thinking about what you want in life in general. You might find that you want to spend the energy that you would put into a new relationship into something else entirely.
4. Be prepared for disappointment
If you want to learn how to date after divorce successfully, you must be accepting of possible rejections. It’s possible that the next person that you date will be the man or woman of your dreams. It is also possible that you will find that the dating scene has changed a great deal from the last time that you were single. You should ensure that you have realistic expectations and are fully prepared for a bumpy road.
5. Get familiar with technology
While some people are still speed dating and meeting at the bar, the game has changed a great deal in the past few years. There are now many dating and hookup apps commonly used by singles of all ages. You will not only have to start using these to find a match, but you will also need to get used to a whole set of rules. This sounds a little scary, and it is, but it can also be exhilarating.
Many apps protect your privacy until you are ready to meet up in person, allowing you to chat with those who you match with over text. If you have any single friends you should reach out to them so that you can benefit from their experience dating in the smartphone age.
6. Trust your gut
There are also a lot of safety concerns that you should consider in this new age of dating. You’re going to be meeting a lot of new people and you may need to tap into some long-forgotten instincts. After being in a relationship for some time you may have become very comfortable and trusting. You will need to reawaken that street smart kid from all those years ago so that you will be able to sniff out when someone is being untruthful.
You should always meet people in a public place and make sure that a friend or family member knows where you are. Many of the people you will meet on your journey back into dating life will be just as nervous and new to this as you, but it always helps to be mindful.
7. Think about your kids
This is something that you will need to navigate. You should you be prepared to be fully upfront with whoever you are dating about your kids. If this comes up as a surprise later on this may not be received as well as if you were honest from the start.
Talking to your kids about dating might also be a little scary. The important thing is for you to take your time and be patient with them. This is something that you will want to discuss with your former spouse if possible as your kids might be asking them questions too. For the sake of your kids, it is best if you are all on the same page.
8. Keep smiling
This might be difficult at first, but Mr. or Mrs. Right could be just around the corner. As you look to getting back into dating it is essential that you always keep positive.
