Even the single person who is thoroughly committed to finding a mate has some trouble getting out and about during the cold winter months. But, don’t let snow and ice deter you from your dating pursuits. Granted, most of your dates will take place indoors this time of year, but don’t use that as an excuse to stay home alone.

This is a great time of year for speed dating events, many of which will likely be held in a warm coffee shop. And, even if you don’t meet anyone special, these can be a great way to get yourself out of the house when you normally wouldn’t.

This is also a great time of year to enjoy less expensive dates, too, like cooking a pot of chili at home and watching a movie or just sitting in front of a cozy fire. Plenty of time to talk and get to know each other can be a good thing when you’ve found someone you think might really be a good match.

So, don’t get the winter blues about your dating life. Enjoy the down time to talk and figure out the new match in your life. Spring will be here soon, along with plenty of opportunities to get outside. Just be sure that by the time the weather warms, you’ve done your best to see that your heart is warmed to someone who’ll enjoy the spring flowers with you.

Dating Essentials Date Ideas, Speed Dating, Winter

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

You’ve made it through the holiday season and into the New Year, a period of time that is often quite difficult for singles and online daters. All of that pressure to “find someone special” can make what are supposed to be happy times into depressed and unpleasant times.

But now it’s February and those dismal, depressed times should be long gone, right? Wrong! Just because the holidays are over does not mean online daters aren’t still feeling the winter blahs. It’s still getting dark early, the weather is still pretty crummy, and it’s still hard sometimes to find yourself looking for dates and feeling quite alone.

So what can you do to overcome these winter dating blahs? As it turns out, plenty!

Keep to a routine – Establish a routine and stick to it because this kind of structure has a positive effect on your mood. The best routines include regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and getting enough sleep each night.

Keep your friends close – The winter blahs are all about feeling a lack of energy, so fight them off by keeping in contact with your friends who energize you. Talk regularly on the phone, set up regular coffee or lunch dates, and make sure you have regular contact with those people who are most energizing and fun to be around.

Practice optimism – It’s easy to get “stuck” in negativity during the winter months; it’s too hard to find dates, the weather is too ugly to go outside, and the like. Remember, though, that the power of positive thinking and optimism are real. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of what you’re feeling and experiencing, make a point of paying attention to the positive aspects of your life. It sounds silly, but it really does work.

Dating Essentials Depression, Friends, Holidays, Winter