Online Dating from A to Z: Trying New Things

Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This month I’ll be working my way through the alphabet, one day at a time, on the subject of Online Dating. If you’ve never visited my blog before, I’m happy you’re here! Be sure to check out my previous A to Z Challenge posts and the books that were inspired by them for more alphabetical fun.

T is for trying new things.

When it comes to online dating, it’s frequently a numbers game. Find as many interesting people as possible, and set up dates to see whether you have anything in common. But if you’re just going on one coffee date after another, things can quickly turn as stale as a day-old bagel. How do you keep things fresh?

Try new things!

Rather than settling for nothing but coffee, switch things up every now and then. Give your date a little healthy competition by taking on an outdoor activity like miniature golf, or if the weather’s bad hit up an arcade and try to outdo one another at video games. Go for a stroll through a local park. Invite someone to join you at a new museum exhibit, an open mic night, or a poetry slam. Rent bikes and see who can ride to a nearby landmark the fastest. Go sightseeing in your own town! Challenge your date to come up with their craziest idea for a fun first date, or toss out something from your Bucket List that you’ve always wanted to try.

One of my favorite suggestions for dates was always: “Hey, wanna go bowling?”

I actually talked a few guys into playing along, despite protests that they weren’t any good at it (hint: you don’t have to be good at bowling to enjoy it – what do you think they serve beer there for?), and most were surprised when I showed up with my own ball and bowling shoes. It usually cracks people up when I reveal that I got a Varsity letter in bowling back in high school, but sometimes this backfired and made my opponents even more determined to beat me! Still, it’s much more fun to feel as if your dates are actually trying to win, rather than gutterballing just to flatter you.

I highly recommend giving a bowling date a try, if you’re looking to bust out of the confines of the Coffee Date.

Whatever you choose to do, dating is a great opportunity to break out of your routine, be playful, and try new things. At the very least, trying something new will always give you something to talk about.

What kinds of things have you tried on a date that you wouldn’t normally have done on your own?

Want more online dating tips?

Sign up for my mailing list to receive a list of my Top 10 Tips for Meeting the Guy or Gal of Your Dreams!