Online dating should never be a source of stress or anxiety.
It should be a fun and exciting time, full expression, happiness and anticipation as you search for your perfect match.
It's easy to get carried away and sometimes that's a good thing, but before we do it's important to get some perspective on the dating scene to know how to stay safe and protect ourselves.
First of all, try to set yourself some boundaries.
Not only will this help with safety but it'll make your overall dating experience a lot better.
Consider who you'd like to meet and how far you'd like things to go and be honest about it on your profile.
If you met someone living on the other side of the world would you still want to go ahead with a relationship? Depending on your boundaries, the rules for safety can shift and change.
If you do meet someone online and then decide to take things to the next level, be sure you've learned as much about each other as you need to in order to feel comfortable.
You may even want to talk on the phone to put your mind at ease and settle your nerves.
You should also plan to meet somewhere public like a restaurant or café - privacy is nice but when you're meeting someone for the first time it's important that you feel safe and able to reach out to someone or leave if you feel uncomfortable.
Don't be a pushover.
People who use online dating are often in need of companionship or something bigger in their lives.
Don't let a fear of being lonely push you into something you're not ready for.
If you meet someone online and they seem like the perfect fit, take the time to get to know them rather than rushing in headfirst.
If you do this you may end up in a position you didn't want to be in, or you could blow things altogether.
If someone truly wants to meet you and spend time getting to know you, they'll happily wait and be very understanding if you want to take things slowly.
The thought of meeting someone online who could change your life is an exciting, heart-pounding notion, but you must remember to keep your cool and always take things slowly.
It's hard to think of any reasons to rush into things with online dating - you've simply got nothing to lose by playing the long game and putting your safety (and your feelings) first!
It should be a fun and exciting time, full expression, happiness and anticipation as you search for your perfect match.
It's easy to get carried away and sometimes that's a good thing, but before we do it's important to get some perspective on the dating scene to know how to stay safe and protect ourselves.
First of all, try to set yourself some boundaries.
Not only will this help with safety but it'll make your overall dating experience a lot better.
Consider who you'd like to meet and how far you'd like things to go and be honest about it on your profile.
If you met someone living on the other side of the world would you still want to go ahead with a relationship? Depending on your boundaries, the rules for safety can shift and change.
If you do meet someone online and then decide to take things to the next level, be sure you've learned as much about each other as you need to in order to feel comfortable.
You may even want to talk on the phone to put your mind at ease and settle your nerves.
You should also plan to meet somewhere public like a restaurant or café - privacy is nice but when you're meeting someone for the first time it's important that you feel safe and able to reach out to someone or leave if you feel uncomfortable.
Don't be a pushover.
People who use online dating are often in need of companionship or something bigger in their lives.
Don't let a fear of being lonely push you into something you're not ready for.
If you meet someone online and they seem like the perfect fit, take the time to get to know them rather than rushing in headfirst.
If you do this you may end up in a position you didn't want to be in, or you could blow things altogether.
If someone truly wants to meet you and spend time getting to know you, they'll happily wait and be very understanding if you want to take things slowly.
The thought of meeting someone online who could change your life is an exciting, heart-pounding notion, but you must remember to keep your cool and always take things slowly.
It's hard to think of any reasons to rush into things with online dating - you've simply got nothing to lose by playing the long game and putting your safety (and your feelings) first!
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