A new study suggests that making dating a New Year’s Resolution may actually improve your chances of finding true love.

According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, making resolutions about how you approach dating and relationships can actually make you more successful at them.

For example, make a resolution to try new avenues for meeting people, such as taking classes or dating online. Or, make a resolution to be open to different types of people than you’ve dated before, such as people who have children or people whose education is very different from yours.

You may also want to make a resolution to stay away from the types of people you’ve dated in the past that haven’t panned out. You know, the bad boy rocker dude who can never commit, or the workaholic who never really has time for a relationship. While you may be attracted to these types initially, it might be time to say you’ve learned your lesson and move on to other types of people.

When you make a decision to change the way you think or act when it comes to dating, you have likely taken the step required to set yourself up for success. There’s an old saying that “if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always got”. This adage certainly applies to dating. If you haven’t been successful, then it’s time to change your approach – and what better time than the New Year?

Tips and Ideas Holidays, Love, New Year's Resolutions

Let’s face it; whether you’ve just started dating, or you’ve been married for 10 years, choosing a gift for your significant other will probably be the hardest gift choice of the holiday season. If you’re in a really new relationship, even deciding whether or not to buy a gift can be tricky. Our advice on that one is, if you like the person and see yourself continuing to go out with them; buy a gift. If you don’t like them enough to want to buy them a gift, you probably shouldn’t be seeing them by Christmas anyway. Choosing the gift may be tough. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help choose the right gift:

• What would he or she like to spend more time doing if they had the time?
• What would he or she love to have but would never buy for himself/herself?
• Pay attention to things he or she comments on when you’re out together. It could give you really good ideas.
• Go places that will help you choose gifts. For instance, take him to a wine or beer tasting; make a mental note about which varieties he likes and come back later and buy some.
• Talk to her friends. A woman’s girlfriends are usually full of ideas and quite happy to help.
• Stay away from clothing purchases, especially for women, unless you’re absolutely sure she’ll love it and it will fit. Clothing is the single most returned category of Christmas gift.

  Tips and Ideas Christmas, Gifts, Holidays

December is a great month for dating. Nearly every city, and even small communities have lots of activities going on that make for fun and often free, dates. And many of the winter activities you can attend are quite romantic. Here are some of our favorites.

• Holiday Light Displays – Lots of areas have drive through or walk through holiday light displays. If yours doesn’t, find a neighborhood that really does a good job of decorating for the holidays and go for a drive there.
• Ice Skating – You don’t have to live near Rockefeller Center to have romantic ice skating dates available. Lots of areas, especially where the weather is really cold, have winter skating rinks.
• Christmas Plays and Pageants – Churches and communities always put on Christmas shows. They can be a fun and inspiring way to spend an evening, just be sure to take your date’s faith into consideration before picking one.
• Volunteer – Spend a Saturday working with an organization that is helping provide toys or food to needy families during the holiday season. You’ll have fun and feel good about your time spent.
• Stay home and build a fire. Winter is also the season for hibernating. A warm fire with some hot chocolate and a great old Christmas movie is also a great way to spend a holiday evening.

Tips and Ideas Christmas, Church, Holidays, Volunteering, Winter