Middle Aged Dating App
Dating in middle age presents many of the same challenges as dating at any age: Where do you find someone to date? Once you’ve found them, how do you know if they’re the one? How do you protect yourself while remaining vulnerable enough to fall in love? You know the story.
Match.com claims almost 50% of their members are 30-49 years old, and 26.5% are 50+, making it one of the best dating sites for people over 40. This popular dating site charges a monthly fee, which means you are more likely to find women there who are serious about meeting someone. It’s also one of the best dating sites for professionals over 40. A solid 82% of members are aged 30 or older, with 52% in the 30-to-45 age range, and 30% aged 50 and older (which is actually the site's fastest growing demographic). Try Match.com for $42.99 for.
Well, sorry to break it to you, but this article isn’t going to answer any of these questions. Instead, I’m going to share with you the three super groovy advantages of dating in middle age:
Advantage # 1: Traditional Roles and Relationships Do Not Apply
Women today are educated, professionals, and have the resources to provide for themselves. They enjoy having their own place and own space, and don’t need their lives to be centered on one person.
Middle Age Dating App
In fact, according to recent studies, more than half of older singles say the best things about being single are independence and personal freedom.
This freedom allows you to throw away the idea of a traditional relationship and co-create one with your partner that suits both of you. It could mean (re)marriage, companionship and fun, or physical intimacy—in any combination. You have the resources to choose.
Advantage # 2: You Know What You Want
There’s something about the wisdom of middle age that helps cut through the bologna and inspires authentic expression of desires, expectations, and feelings. There’s less fear about putting it all on the line because your wisdom tells you it’s better to find out now if you’re a good fit instead of waiting for later.
As Treva Scharf said in an interview with AARP, she knew her husband “…was the one because he drove the relationship without his foot on the brakes. He was direct, fearless, and didn’t play games. He knew what he wanted, and he proceeded with confidence…” His candor helped both he and Treva know where they stood from the beginning and solidified that the relationship was worth pursuing.
By directly expressing your feelings and expectations, you may find, as Michael Liberatore did, that the best thing about finding love later in life is “…knowing myself and what I will tolerate…I don’t put up with the stuff I did when I was young and didn’t realize I had to ask for what I wanted instead of just waiting and hoping for it”
And speaking of knowing what you want…
Advantage # 3: The Three-Date Rule Doesn’t Apply
You are grown. If you and your date are feeling it, then go for it. No one at midlife is going to think you’re cheap or easy if you give it up on the first date. You simply know what you want, aren’t afraid to get it, and have the wisdom to know that it doesn’t mean love, it means s-e-x. If you have a real connection with someone, it’s not going to end after one night. It’s going to continue and potentially blossom into something satisfying for both of you.
I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you to practice safe sex. In 2013, the CDC reported that 21% of new HIV diagnoses were in individuals over 50. And, from 2015 to 2016, there was a 20% jump in sexually transmitted infections among Americans 45 and older. Exercise Super Groovy Advantage # 2 and say no to anyone who isn’t willing to protect you or themselves. Educate yourself and be prudent.
Although dating at any age has its challenges, you, as a middle-aged dater, have three distinct advantages:
1. Traditional roles and relationships do not apply. You have the freedom to design your own relationship.
2. You have the wisdom to know what you want and the candor to ask for it; and 3. The three-date rule does not apply.
Celebrate your midlife, my friend, and stay super groovy!
Referenced in this article:
Dating App Free
Baby boomers and sexually transmitted diseases (2018). Retrieved from https://www.stdaware.com/blog/baby-boomers-and-sexually-transmitted-diseases/
Emling, S. (2017, February). Never too late for love. AARP.
Kantrowitz, B., Raymond, J., Springen, K., Wingert, P., Kuchment, Al, & Kelley, R. (2006). The boomer files: relationships. Sex & love: the new world. Newsweek, 147(8), 50-60.
Lilleston, R. (2017, September). STD rates keep rising for older adults. AARP.
Watson, W. K., & Stelle, C. (2011). Dating for older women: Experiences and meanings of dating in later life. Journal of Women and Aging, 23, 263-275. doi:10.1080/08952841.2011.587732
Traci Clarida is an author, speaker, and coach whose vibrant energy spreads positivity, love, and compassion to the world. She inspires women to get stuff done through authentic living and embracing perfect imperfection. She teaches clients how to find freedom from self-judgment and provides proven strategies to guide them to overcome obstacles, complete goals, and execute solid plans for success. Follow Traci on Facebook and Instagram. For more information visit www.letsgetstuffdone.com
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By Isabel Frank WilliamDating is a complex thing, and it’s more so when you’re in your 40s or older. Re-entering the dating scene in your age would expose you to a lot of unsolicited dating advice coming from family, friends, and even strangers back in the day. But the good news is that times have changed, and if you’re a woman who is in pursuit of love, you don’t have to be worried about being judged by society. This already provides a great head start for getting back on the dating scene, but the question you’re probably asking is How do I begin dating again? To help you out, in this article we’re diving into the world of dating, explaining what it takes to find the right partner and how to approach this seemingly awkward, and for most women, daunting task. With these five tips in mind, we’re sure you won’t be single for long.
Be open to online dating
When it comes to online dating, more and more single women are starting to see the potential of searching for their future partner online. Dating apps make it possible to connect with someone based on your interests or mutual friends, giving you an insight into what the person is like and what their hobbies and interests are, which is perfect if you’re an introvert. Dating apps are also a more convenient option as they save you time. If you’re someone who is busy and don’t really have the time to go on dates, dating apps make it possible to find the love of your life with just a few clicks or swipes. These apps are also the perfect way to meet somebody if you work from home and don’t like going out that much. You simply browse through different profiles, contact the people you like, and hope you two are a match! Technology, huh?
Explore beyond the dating apps
As much as convenient online dating sounds, there is always the other side of the coin that needs to be taken into account. Like most things, it has its flaws, and there are a couple of drawbacks to the whole virtual dating concept. Social cues and body language play an important role in how we perceive the other person and since you’re not actually talking face to face with your date when chatting online, it might be hard to keep the conversation going because the whole online dating concept lacks that communication aspect. Also, the people you meet online sometimes don’t really look like their profile picture in real life, and it’s something that would never happen on a traditional date. Therefore, don’t rely solely on apps to find a partner, but rather explore the dating world beyond the dating apps, and date in a way that feels right for you.
Be the single you want to date
Before you jump into making a list of all the traits and characteristics your ideal partner should possess, first you have to make sure that you are the single you’d want to date. That means working on yourself and your skills and finding new ways to broaden your horizons. Melanie Schilling, a psychologist from Australia, says that before being able to develop a healthy relationship with somebody, you first need to have a positive relationship with yourself. More and more women from the land Down Under are starting to see her point, with many of them opting for business courses in Sydney to gain the necessary knowledge and make themselves appear as attractive potential partners. By investing in themselves, not only are these women praised and admired, but they also get to feel more confident about themselves, which makes them all the more appealing.
Don’t be afraid to initiate a contact
Middle Age Men And Dating
When it comes to making the first move, women aren’t usually the ones that are expected to reach out and ask men out. However, as you get older, you start to realize that initiating contact isn’t that big of a deal, and once you’re over 40, the confidence that comes with age makes you strong enough to handle both acceptance and rejection. Being older implies you know what you want and that you’re confident enough to ask for it, so why miss the chance? If there is something about the other person that has you interested and you feel like you want to get to know them better, just say it. Initiate the conversation, open up, and be honest – that will make you more attractive because you’ll appear as a strong, brave woman who knows what she wants and how to make sure she gets it.
Hold out, don’t settle
The problem with most women over 40 who have just started dating is that, more often than not, they convince themselves that they mustn’t be picky about their future partners and just settle for the first one that comes along. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you should accept the first opportunity that knocks on the door and choose to be with someone just for the sake of being in a relationship. Your time is precious, and you shouldn’t spend it on someone who isn’t head over heels in love with you. Identify the deal-breakers, communicate those issues, and if it doesn’t work, move on. Hold out and don’t settle, and when the time is right, the right one will come along.
Even though it might seem difficult getting back on the dating scene, how you choose to approach it will determine the kind of partner you will attract into your life. Be positive, be open to new things, and use this time to reflect, to heal, and to flourish into a new woman who is ready for new love and fun adventures. Use the tips above as a guide for narrowing down your search and attracting the right partner into your life. And remember – it happens when you least expect it...