By Ekaterina Lalo, BounceBack Editorial Staff
Even if you're willing and ready to start dating again after a relationship breakup, you often have no idea where to begin. On the one hand, you feel tired of being lonely; on the other hand, you are afraid to be hurt again and have trouble trusting another person. Weeks, months, and in some cases even years have passed, and you still haven't mustered up the courage to go on that first date.
If you find yourself stuck in the post-breakup, pre-dating situation and want to move forward, consider speed dating. Many people talk about speed dating jokingly, as if it can't produce real results. In fact, it's excellent practice and a fabulous way to get you comfortable in your dating-again shoes. Here are 4 reasons why:
Related: Keep Dating Fun: 5 Ways to Banish the Bad
1. Opportunity to meet a lot of people at once. Instead of meeting one person at a time, you can talk to ten or more potential dates. It multiplies your chances to find a partner and allows you to be selective.
2. So many options, so little time. You will not have another chance to meet as many people within an hour unless you are chatting with them online. As opposed to Internet matching, speed dating hooks you up with real people you can look at and find out if there's any chemistry going on.
Related: Casual Dating 101: First, Do No Harm
3. No commitment at all. When you arrange a date via phone or e-mail, there is usually a follow-up message after every date, which is sometimes uncomfortable if you didn't like the person and the man/woman was crazy about you. With speed dating, there is nothing of the kind. No one will get your contact information until you agree to have a follow-up date, and most likely, you will never see these people again.
4. Indicator of readiness. Speed dating is a good way to see whether or not you are prepared for a new relationship. It allows you to determine if you can imagine yourself being with a new partner or if you realize that you are still not over your ex.
Related: Dating: So Great for Some, So Hard for Others
Even if speed dating doesn't seem to be your "thing", try it out. It will get you back in the swing of things - quickly - and it's a great first step on the way to a new relationship. Who knows, in all the rush, you may walk out of there on your way to something special.
Ekaterina is a recently graduated journalism student who blogs and edits for Campus Clipper, an NYC student coupon rewards magazine. She also writes for www.hubpages.com and dreams of publishing her first book, a collection of short stories she is currently working on.
BounceBack helps people find happiness after heartbreak. Click here to get advice from our members.
More on BounceBack:
Text Me: 3 Reasons Why Your Reply Should Wait
Your Friend Cheats: Should You Tell?
5 Common Dating Mistakes You Don't Know You're Making
The 10 Worst Ways to Break Up With Someone
Things Your Ex Should Not Ask of You
Want to Get Your Ex Back? What NOT to Do
7 Tips to Reinvent Yourself After Heartbreak
Love Hurts, Literally: New Study Links Rejection to Physical Pain
10 Reasons NOT to Live in the Past
Connect with BounceBack:
8 comments