It’s autumn- that time of year where we exchange our tank tops for turtlenecks and our bikinis for blue jeans. The long days of sunlight until the evening hours are gone, and the cold weather seems to rush in mercilessly. In many cases, the change of season tends to affect our mood, which tends to affect our socializing, which can affect potential relationships. Without a doubt, the change of seasons can make it harder to date and meet new people. In the summer, you can go to the beach and meet a guy working on his tan or merely step outside of your doorstep and meet a guy driving down the street in his drop-top convertible. During the fall and winter, these are not options. But the cold weather doesn’t have to put a damper on your dating life! Even though it’s cold outside, you can still warm things up in your dating life by following these tips:
1) Hang-out in well-lit places: One of the biggest complaints about the autumn and winter months is that it gets dark very early. In Northeastern states, it is often dark outside by 4:00 p.m. The early evening darkness tends to have a negative impact on the moods of many Americans (known as Seasonal Affect Disorder). To counter the autumn/winter blues, go to places where there is guaranteed, bright lighting at all times (and guaranteed opportunities to meet guys). These places include:
a) Barnes and Noble- if you meet a guy/gal there, at least you know one thing about him/her from the door- she/he’s a reader and a thinker, which often means that she/he’s a good communicator.
b) Whole Foods/Trader Joes or an equivalent health foods store- Health food stores are flooded these days with young professionals and socialites who are health conscious and willing to spend extra bucks on organic foods. A friend of mine recently told me that she met her current beau in a Whole Foods store. If you meet a guy/gal there, you’ll know that she/he’s health conscious and can afford to pay extra money for wholesome foods.
2) Say “Yes” to the “Espress-o”- Cafés such as Starbucks are booming in the wintertime with singles! Many cafés host open mic poetry readings, spoken word, karaoke and much more. If you’re not one who needs to be in a well-lit setting, bring some of your friends with you to a café, order an espresso, and let the meeting and greeting begin!
3) Throw a dinner party- Some are deterred from going out because of the cold, so one way to meet new people (without having to leave your house), is by throwing your own dinner party! But there is one rule: Guests must bring 1 single person of their sex (i.e. male guests bring 1 single, male friend, and female guests bring 1 single female friend). You provide the food and your guests will provide the guests. Why this will work: Everyone loves free food and an opportunity to meet new people, so if each invitee brings a guest, socializing, networking, and possibly, future dating, is bound to happen!
4) Join a Gym- So many men and women utilize the colder months to work on that rock-solid body for the summer! Gym memberships increase dramatically during the winter (which means there are more people to meet). If you’re looking to improve your health, get in shape, and perhaps find a little romance, joining the gym is an excellent choice.
5) Get your praise on!- I have met so many couples who found each other in a house of worship. Now, I do not recommend going to church solely for the purpose of meeting a guy, but as you get your praise on, you never know who just might meet. Many places of worship have services throughout the week, and many have ministries that provide opportunities to fellowship and meet new people. You can join the usher board, young adult ministry, praise dance ministry or even the gospel choir, and while you’re singing His praises, you just may meet someone who wants to sing yours!
The bottom line is this: it may be cold and dark outside, but getting involved and maintaining an active life not only increases your chances of meeting someone, but it keeps you from dwelling on the fact that you’re single. You want to be your best “you” at all times, and one way to do that is to focus on those things that make you happy. When you’re most content with your life and with who you are, he or she will come!
