Online dating is wonderful for a lot of people. It is time-saving and adds a sense of convenience to the otherwise rather inconvenient world of dating in modern times. But how to know if online dating is right for you is important to understand.
I am just guessing here, but I would imagine that you know at least one couple that met online. And when I say online, that could mean a dating site like eHarmony or a dating app like Tinder or Bumble.
People adore online dating and all it has to offer. With that being said, it is not for everyone. Just like blind dates and speed dating are not for everyone neither is online dating.
# Are you a social butterfly? Online dating is ideal for those who maybe don’t meet people all the time offline. It is great for people who maybe have a small group of friends, so it is hard to meet new people.
But, if you have a large group of friends and love meeting new people, online dating may not be right for you. Sure, you can never have enough friends, and meeting more can’t hurt, but online dating is a way to open up doors that would otherwise be closed. If all your doors are open already, you may not need more.
# Are you active and adventurous? This is something I find interesting. Hear me out. I am a pretty lazy person. I hang out at home a lot, so it isn’t easy to meet like-minded people, or at least it won’t be until Netflix creates a dating app. But I digress.
I constantly see people on dating apps saying they are spontaneous, adventurous, and active. If that is true, I wonder why they haven’t met anyone on all these active and spontaneous adventures they go on.
I know I don’t meet people because no one is hanging out in front of my TV, but if you are out doing things all the time, chances are there are tons of people for you to meet that way.
# Are you embarrassed or ashamed of online dating? Even though online dating has taken the world by storm, some people still find it embarrassing. The stigma attached to online dating implies anyone who needs the internet to find a date is desperate and has no other options.
Although that is entirely untrue, you may still carry those thoughts around. If you feel like you can’t tell your friends you’re online dating or would want to make up a false story about how you met someone so no one knew it was online, just don’t do it. Either lose those judgments or go back to traditional dating.
# Are you too busy to keep up with it? A lot of people think online dating is for people who are too busy to meet people in other ways. Sure, you can swipe and chat while in a meeting, but that doesn’t mean you have time to date.
If you don’t have time to commit to dating offline, what makes you think you will have time to do so online? A lot of online dating apps have 24-hour limits. If you do not interact with a match in 24-hours, it disappears. This weeds out those that aren’t on the app enough to make a real connection.
If you are too busy to use the app, you are probably too busy to put effort into a relationship.
# Are you naturally an anxious person?
Do you overthink everything? If so, online dating will be a minefield for you. There is so much that is left unsaid. And if things are going well, working up the nerve to meet offline can be too much for you.
Sure, you can work on your anxiety and be able to meet people, I did. But if you are struggling with anxiety so much you cancel dates regularly, online dating may not be right for you. Instead, ask friends to set you up and go on double dates so you have extra security.
# Do you get attached to people quickly? Online dating is not like high school dating where you meet someone, catch feelings, and that is it, you’re a thing. With online dating, you can talk to someone every day for a week and share all your darkest secrets, and then never hear from them again.
I am not saying this is normal or right in any way. If you tend to get attached to a date or even someone you are just chatting with easily, you have to be able to move on from that to make online dating work. If you get attached quickly, you will go through a lot of heartbreak with online dating.