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8 Steps to New Love: Your 2008 Dating Plan

By Diana Kirschner, Ph.D. Updated: Aug 16, 2008
Diana Kirschner, Ph.D.
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Change your love life by following a whole new dating plan and committing right now, right here to find your new love. At this moment your chances of meeting the love of your life could be better than ever! New singles are coming on the scene all the time. In fact, around 16 million people are now using online dating in the U.S. You have a lot of partners to choose from.
So go on, make the affirmation. Something like, "I create new love." Here is an eight-step action plan that can make your commitment a reality in 2008:
1. Prioritize Finding Love
Imagine if you didn't have a job and needed money. Looking for a job would be your absolute top priority. You would spend hours posting and searching sites like HotJobs.com, scanning the want ads, calling recruiters, asking your friends and jumping on any leads.
In contrast, finding love ranks pretty low on your to-do list. You come home from work, run errands, answer some emails, call your friends, play with the dog, watch your favorite show, and maybe spend 15 minutes browsing your online dating site.
“Most of you are better at planning your weekend or vacation than planning your dating life.”
Most of you are better at planning your weekend or vacation than planning your dating life. Yet study after study has shown that relationships are treasured above all else when we reflect on what has the most meaning in our lives. So make finding love a top priority.
2. Have A 'New You' Party
Order a bunch of pizzas or something simple like Chinese food. Invite all your friends to come over for a "New You" party where they give you a makeover. Have them go through your clothes and accessories, getting rid of unflattering stuff and putting together some hot new looks for you. Ask them for referrals to great hair salons or clothing shops. Find a look that makes you feel great.
“Don't feel like you are imposing -- there is usually nothing your friends like more than giving you advice!”
Don't feel like you are imposing -- there is usually nothing your friends like more than giving you advice! Of course, tell them you are looking to meet someone special and to keep you in mind. Email the same message to any friends who did not make the party.
3. Work Your Online Dating Program
Throw out your old photo and profile. Have a friend who is a good photographer take 100 headshots of you in order to get one that looks especially warm, attractive and inviting. Ask some opposite-sex friends to help you pick out the best photo and work on your profile. After you post them, spend at least three hours a week looking around the site, sending and responding to messages and connecting by phone and in person with people. Block out time in your daily calendar to work the program.
4. Go Where the Odds Are Good
Sign up for two ongoing classes or activities that interest you that have lots of potential partners in them. Finance, investing and leadership classes at your local college, rock-climbing, golfing, snowboarding, skiing, hiking and wine tasting are all great for meeting men. Women are plentiful at cooking, growth, spirituality and yoga courses. Coed city sports teams are great and usually have an even mix of genders.
There are many other activities, classes and clubs to consider, so search online. Or go toUpcoming or meetup.com and peruse their groups. If you're so inclined, look into volunteering for a local or national political group.
5. Meet New People
Find and say hello to three new men or women every day. Assuming you are in a safe or public place, make eye contact, smile, say hi, or ask for some help. This is what I call the Marcia Cross Technique. Actress Marcia Cross was in her forties when she met her husband by chatting with him in a flower shop. She is now the ecstatic mother of twin baby girls.
If you don't encounter a lot of men or women in your daily routine, make sure to try a new grocery store, dry cleaners, pharmacy or coffee/sandwich shop at lunch. You can start with saying hello to the less threatening types and work your way up to the ones who are "out of your league." You will be surprised how receptive the hotties can be!
6. Date Against Type
Most people do not find love with the type of person they imagine for themselves. The guy who only wants a petite blonde winds up with a brainy brunette. The woman who dates starving artists marries a rich, balding lawyer. Look at photos and profiles that you would ordinarily pass on. If you always go for the sleek metrosexual, give the Midwesterner who just moved to your town a try. If you go for the hotties, try someone who has a heart of gold instead. You may be very happily surprised!
7. Go for a Second Date
“Even if you are not exactly blown away by a person on the first date, remember to stay open.”
Even if you are not exactly blown away by a person on the first date, remember to stay open. You cannot know what secret goodies are hidden in someone just by meeting them once. You have to let a potential partner unfold and show you his/her different sides. If there is any connection with this person at all, give it another chance. Love almost always comes in a surprise package.
8. Open the Door
If you do meet someone and have a really good time, send a quick text or email the next morning to let the person know that the door is open to getting together again. This is especially important for women to do. Write something specific about the date that points to the connection between the two of you or refers to something you both loved. For example, if you went to a comedy show, write a message about a particular joke you both enjoyed and add, "Let's do it again sometime."
Now you have your love resolution and plan. Most importantly, commit to the first step and make this plan Priority One in your life. Chances are, before too long you'll be kissing the one you want.
More Diana Kirschner
Diana Kirschner, Ph.D., is the author of the forthcoming book "Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love." She is a recurring relationship expert on "The Today Show" and her free love etips are available at www.lovein90days.com.
Leave a comment COMMENTS50 COMMENTS
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Barbara
Interesting..........
Cindy
Most of us are single because we have shut ourselves off from the outside for one reason or another. A lot of this advice does not make sense for someone who has no real friends they can invite to do make overs etc. Some of us are single parents with not much time on our hands to join a club or we probably would not be single in the first place s strile two. Finally, I really don&#39;t think it is flattering for a woman to go around saying hello to men no matter how things change. Sorry I am very old school but the rest of the stuff is marvelous! Thanks
Perri
Diana, I finally figured out what the hell is going on here... you cant use quotation marks. So Ill rewrite this save the quotes Oh Diana, this article is well written and inspiring to most but you fail to recognize one important detail, When it comes to attracting the oppisite sex ,you either got it or you dont,period.We all emit a specific hormonal odor known as Phermones,that is unique to us like our DNA.Certain individuals are drawn in by these phermones which constitutes sexual attraction or what some of us call Chemistry. For some of us,or maybe I should speak for myself,those phermones dont attract anybody. When it comes to attracting women I have always been the Invisible Man. Sure I have many female friends and married or attached women will claim that I am attractive but they have nothing to lose,no fear of being persued so theyll say anything to boost my confidence. But for the 654,987 available women I have approached...Nothing.Sometimes no matter what you do you can only get so far before you realize this is as far as you can go.I played for 7 years in the Minors, batted .360 lifetime and played an entire season only commiting 4 errors at shortstop...and I never made it to the Majors. That was as far as I could go. When it comes to dating I realize Ill never make it to the Big Leagues so... theres really no point to come up to bat. And Im allright with that.
Terri
I agree with this article. I think you have to take a risk, and keep taking a risk in order to meet someone of quality if the traditional methods are not working. I did a makeover on my best friend and she did some things on her own as well. She always had a great personality, but after we both worked on her exterior...she went from someone who most people wouldn&#39;t notice to a head turner. Her exterior became as beutiful as her interior. Guys and girls, ask your best friends to help you out-good suggestion!
Jenni
I can only speak for myself but I agree that I think that love is the number one most important thing in life and spent probably 20 min. a week trying to meet a man. This article has given me some great tips to meeting new people...if I am not trying how can it happen? Our culture is so romantisized and infatuated with the saying that when you are not looking for love this is when it will happen. I believe that nothing just falls in your lap, you have to work for it. Thanks
Dan
i agree with this mater but wene you work alot and are raisen kids with no help. its hard to do . But I beleave people should spend more time looking and take more chances in this case! and not be so optimistic .And be opened minded.And safe at the same time.
No Photo
First, I do not know why they could not make a message board that you could use apostrophes without them coming out as &#39; They are in the article. Second, if you want to meet somebody, you have to say something to them. If a woman wants to meet a particular man, if they do not in some way let them know they are at least interested, there&#39;s not much left to bring him over to you than how you look. Women can be so charming and out going when they want something or need a favor. Yet when it comes to meeting somebody, they freeze up and the ego gets the best of them and they take a stance of not letting him know I&#39;m interested until he shows he&#39;s interested first. A truly nice guy may not make a first move because with all the game playing, he might be cynical. People also get too caught up in having to go to a place to meet somebody, or meeting somebody when you go out. Meet them where you meet them. Any place you go is a place to meet somebody. It&#39;s not that technical. But apparently, apostrophes and quote marks are super technical.
A Yahoo! Contributor
Diana, this article interest me most. I have been disappointed by a man that i love and the first love of my life. I have been in relationshiop with him for good 10 years. All he could tell me that he doesn&#39;t want me again that is all over between both of us. Without no reason. Please kindly advice me on what to do. I want to let it go but i find with every diffcuilt to do it.
No Photo
it&#39;s true that a risk has to be taken in order to find that one person that you want to share your life with.So come on ladies,I do not bite,but I&#39;m looking for an unconditional love and will give that in return.
A Yahoo! Contributor
yes I do agree that love is the most important thing in this world: I meet my beautyful wife on the net. she is the most important person in my life. so love is important I belive to everyone. so dont give up.
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