Dating in your 50’s and 60’s: Finding love again as a baby boomer
Tips and advice for Australian singles dating after retirement or marriage. Dating and finding love for the second time round is just as fun as the first time. The biggest difference between finding love in your 50s, 60s and 70s than back in your 20’s and 30’s is experience!
You are now in a great position. Your adult tasks have been accomplished, career established, children have grown up and in many cases you have more time and disposable money for you! It’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labour!
How serious are you about love?
If you are serious about finding love you need to take a strategic approach. Just as you’d have a plan for any goal in life such as buying a house, career, weight loss or a holiday. So take fate into your own hands, open the door, and challenge yourself to find love by a given date.
So how do you do it? Let me share with you the:
Top 10 strategies to finding love in your 50’s, 60s and 70s:
1. Get out and about to meet singles
Break out of your comfort zone. You have wonderful friends, family, and career; it’s time to get out and met new people, try new things. A course, cooking classes and dancing are excellent ways to meet singles. Take some golf lessons or simply enjoy a coffee in a new cafe whilst reading the paper. You never know whose path you may cross!
2. Announce your dating status
Expand your wings. Let your friends and family know that you are dating. Have them introduce you to anyone that may be suitable.
3. Get in touch with an old flame
Look up an old friend you have lost touch with. A large portion of people in their 50’s rekindle romances and find love from their past.
4. Hire a professional matchmaker
Every day, professional matchmakers meet single men and women searching for love the second time round. A dating or introduction agency will do the work for you, listen to what you’re are searching for in a person, run through dating compatibility tests based on values and lifestyles and most importantly offer you the advice and support you need.
5. Make new baby boomer single friends
Having single friends in the same situation will give you healthy support. Host dinner parties and invite new people to join your group.
6. Be positive!
Listen to your words. Are you being negative? Complaining that no one is good enough, and that everyone wants a younger man or woman will get you nowhere! Lose the cynicism. It’s a huge turn off. You’ll be more attractive to potential partners with a positive attitude.
7. Engage in light conversation.
Once you’ve found someone to go out with, the intention of your first date should be purely to have a nice time while getting to know a new person.
8. Prepare conversation starters
I always recommend 3 – 5 open ended questions about food, travel, favourite weekend escapes and favourite outdoor activities. It’s a great opportunity for you to establish whether there is intrigue or an interest in a second date. Read more about what to say on a first date
9. The topic of children
Mention you children, however, don’t dwell on the subject. Your date could lose interest. Remember, they are here getting to know you, not your children. If things are looking good, they can get to know your kids down the track.
10. Exit the ex!
Embrace the past relationship, but now move on. Your second relationship will never compete with the first. Once you acknowledge the past, have confidence in yourself that finding someone new will happen sooner rather than later.
11. Bonus tip: Have fun!
You are at a great time in your life! Have balance between friends, family, time for you and of course finding new love! Learn to live in the moment. Be fulfilled by who you are now.
Remember, not everyone will be the love of your life, but it’s likely you will make many wonderful friends along the path to finding your companion.
And never, ever give up!
