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Tips for Dating in Your 40s...............Dating in your 40s can be a wonderful thing... Truth be told, dating in your 40s can be a wonderful thing. You're braver, smarter, wiser, and more discerning than ever. Using these qualities as your secret superpowers can make dating in your 40s not only fun but also much more successful than dating in your 30s and 20s. If your interest is piqued, keep watching to discover your road map to dating at this wonderful age. 1. Choose Your Partner Wisely… We've all heard the staggering saying: Half of all marriages end in divorce. But we're pretty excited to announce that this statistic is not true anymore. According to the Institute for Family Studies, which acquired its stats from the Census Bureau, divorce in America has been falling fast. Even better, the divorce rate fell to a record low in 2019. For every 1,000 marriages in 2019, 14.9 ended in divorce. 2. Make Sure You're Both Ready to Date… Unlike dating in your 20s, you've likely had a major relationship, whether it was a spouse or a long-term partner, and the person you're dating probably has, too. Make sure that both you and your date have processed these relationships and are ready to move forward. How can you tell if you or your date is living in the past? One red flag is talking about their past partner in disparaging terms. 3. Wait Before Introducing Your Partner to Your Kids… If you're a parent, anyone you date is getting a package deal, and it's crucial to prioritize your kids' emotional needs over your desire to find romantic love. "Children need time to adjust to their parents' split, and it can take at least two years for them to get over anger, sadness, and other emotions. "Introducing a new love interest too soon may delay or damage this process. You owe it to your kids to take it slow when dating." 4. Practice Patience When It Comes to Sex… In the heat of the moment, sometimes it can take all your willpower to say "no." But it's well worth it—especially for mature adults. "It takes time to get to know someone, and talking is the glue that holds people together. "Rushing into sex can derail talking communication and make it just a short-lived burst of lust." 5. Be Independent and Interdependent… A nice perk of being 40 is that you’ve likely worked on yourself and are more comfortable with who you are now than you may have been a decade or two ago. If not, take time to think through your dating goals, values, and preferences. Know your relationship expectations and deal-breakers without being too rigid. Doing this allows you to be both an independent and interdependent partner, so “you function well on your own. 6. Navigate Gender Stereotypes… Dating in today's landscape can present confusing expectations around gender roles. It's likely you and your partner will have different ideas and philosophies, especially when you're financially independent and used to being single. Who picks up the check, and how often? Do you want the door opened for you, or do you want to open it yourself? Not being on the same page can lead to awkwardness and resentment. 7. Trust Your Instincts… "Most relationship mistakes happen because a person does not trust their instincts early on and sticks around thinking it will change," a clinical psychologist. By your 40s, you've experienced many human encounters, so trust your gut. 8. Develop a Clear Agenda… Having a good time may have been your main dating plan when you were younger, but in your 40s, people may be looking for anything from friendship to casual hookups to marriage. Plus, you have to balance dating goals with your established careers, financial responsibilities, families, children, and living situations. 9. Manage Your Social Media Expectations… Social media is a seamless part of everyday life for most 20- and 30-year-olds. But for someone from an older generation, their connection to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter could be more of a mixed bag. Your date's social habits could range from "the 45-year-old who is as plugged in as a teenager to the 48-year-old who has never been on Instagram. 10. Accept Scheduling Conflicts… Many people over 40 have many responsibilities that require more planning. Tuesday night dates that stretch into the wee hours may not work on a regular basis as fatigue can set in. "Not to say that you need to get the blue plate special and call it a night at 7 p.m., but you are also no longer able to just skip morning classes after a first date. 11. Never Apologize for Being You… You may have had your fair share of trial and error, but this needn’t be considered “baggage.” If a past folly comes up on a date, focus on the growth and learning that came out of it instead of beating yourself up. “Women, in particular, apologize for what they perceive are their shortcomings or to discount themselves.