Dating Rules After Divorce

Are there really any dating rules after divorce?  Not necessarily, but if you've been out of circulation for a while, the following tips will help you navigate the waters more easily.

Dating After Divorce:  10 Tips for the Newly Uncommitted
From the authors of "Not Your Mother's Divorce"

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1. Note To Self:  Proceed With Caution.  Try to balance out time with thrilling new acquaintances/guys with time by yourself, and time with good old friends you can trust.
   
2. Singleton Girlfriends:  Your Greatest Asset.  If you don't already have girlfriends who are single or have recently been single for a significant period of time, find them.  Single women will be an incredible resource for you both because they are in a similar phase of life and because they know the ropes of the wacky dating world better than you.
   
3. The Harsh Truth:  It's One Big Process of Elimination.  An important thing to know is that a guy you meet or go on a date with does not have to ever get in touch with you again.  If a guy doesn't call, he's not interested/ he's commitment-phobic/ whatever.  Don't fool yourself that he's busy, traveling, and so on.
   
4. Avoid Inadvertent Stalking.  Be careful not to engage in premature couple behavior just because it's what you know best.  You don't want to ruin something good by overwhelming the guy and yourself before you even know what's there, and you want to make sure he is as great as you think.
   
5. To Thine Own Self Be True - Without Over sharing.  Whether you view it as "being mysterious" a la The Rules or honoring your own privacy, going slowly on the information front means you are confiding in a guy only once you are ready and he is worthy - an important measure of self-respect.
   
6. Go With The Gut.  You'll usually know by the second or third date whether you're vaguely interested in a guy.  If you're dreading a next date, you're not into it.
   
7. The World Is Your Petri-Dish.  Approach the dating scene with an attitude of experimentation and openness.  Don't necessarily focus on Mr. Right but on Mr. Right Now.
   
8. Defy the Checklist and Rediscover Your Type.  Many of us think we have a "type."  We recommend that you jettison the checklist, get out of your head, and experiment with what really makes you happy (or makes you gag) so that you're living in reality and not on some remote Fantasy Island.
   
9. Do a 180.  One form of defying your checklist is being attracted to or getting involved with guys who are pretty much the opposite of your ex.  Human nature being what it is, sometimes we need to swing from one extreme to the other to make progress.  
   
10. Find Your Inner Flirt.  Flirting is a state of mind - it's about engaging in a sense of play about human contact and connection.  It's about charming someone and letting yourself be charmed, about delighting in someone's vitality and having him delight in yours.  It's frothy and joyous, not deep or serious.  It's about instant gratification, not long-term goals.  The chance to flirt may not last forever, so enjoy the freedom while you can - flirt 'til it hurts.

If you're still a little shy about entering the dating scene, you can always consider using an online matchmaking service such as Yahoo Personals or PerfectMatch, which have a lot to offer, even if you live in a small town.  You can run a quick search to find lots of great people in your area, plus take the free love style and personality test to help rank your possible matches. Try Perfectmatch.com - The Best Approach to Finding the Right Person for You. Or, find who (and what) you want with Yahoo! Personals 7 Day FREE Trial offer

Below are more articles on dating after divorce.

Divorce Process / Children and Divorce/ Emotions and Divorce
Starting Over / Financial Survival / Job Tool Kit

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