Imagine this scenario: you match with someone on a dating app, and you start chatting and hit it off immediately. You exchange numbers and agree to meet up for coffee the following week. But then, two days before your date, they cancel with a vague excuse about being “super busy at work.” Sound familiar? If you’re active in the dating scene, chances are you’ve experienced some form of flakes, ghosting, or other frustrating behaviors. But don’t despair—there are ways to avoid wasting your time on these uninterested prospects. Keep reading to find out how.
Define What You Want
The first step in finding a lasting relationship is to define what you want in a partner. This might seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people date without any real idea of what they’re looking for. Before you go on your next first date, sit down and make a list of must-haves and deal breakers. Your must-haves are the non-negotiable qualities, such as being kind, being gainfully employed, etc. Deal breakers are the qualities that would cause you to end a relationship, such as a drug use, smoking, etc. Having this list will help you weed out unsuitable partners before you even go on a date with them.
Hire the experts
Sometimes, you can’t figure out why you keep attracting the wrong types of partners. If you’re struggling to find someone who meets your criteria, it might be time to call in the experts. Luma Luxury Matchmaking is a professional dating agency specializing in finding lasting love for its clients. Their matchmakers get to know you deeply and use their expertise to find the best possible matches for you—all you have to do is show up and enjoy your date. Hiring the experts is one way to ensure that you’re not wasting your time on bad dates and that you have a higher chance of finding lasting love.
End things quickly
If you find yourself on a date with someone who is clearly not a good match, don’t be afraid to end things quickly. To be polite, there’s no need to suffer through an entire meal or movie—if the date isn’t going well, it’s okay to call it quits early. Not only will this save you time, but it will also save you the emotional energy that you would have wasted on a dead-end relationship.
Stop Settling
One of the main reasons people waste their time on bad dates is because they settle for less than they deserve. If you find yourself making excuses for your date’s behavior or going on second and third dates when there was no chemistry, it’s time to stop settling. Remember, you deserve to be with someone who loves and respects you—don’t settle for anything less.
Set Your Standards High
Now that you know what you want in a partner, it’s time to set your high standards. That doesn’t mean being superficial or judgmental; it just means having confidence in what you deserve. When it comes to relationships, you deserve nothing less than the best. So don’t settle for anything less than someone who meets all of your must-haves. If you settle for someone missing one or more of your must-haves, chances are good that you’ll eventually find yourself back on the dating scene looking for someone who’s a better fit.
Communicate Your Expectations Early On
One of the biggest mistakes people make when dating is not communicating their expectations early in the relationship. Suppose you want something serious and your date is only interested in something casual. In that case, there’s bound to be conflict down the road. Save yourself the hassle and heartache by communicating your expectations early in the relationship. That way, you and your partner will know where things are headed and whether you’re on the same page.
Be Willing to Walk Away
If things aren’t working out with someone, don’t be afraid to walk away from the relationship. It might be tempting to try to make things work with someone even if it’s not meant to be, but trust me: it’s not worth it. If someone isn’t meeting your needs or making you happy, let them go and find someone who will. Life is too short to waste time on people who don’t deserve it.
The bottom line
Dating can be frustrating, especially when running into flakes and uninterested prospects. But by being mindful of red flags and keeping your expectations in check, you can protect yourself from getting hurt and save precious time. So next time you’re swiping through dating apps or getting ready for a first date, remember these tips—they might come in handy.
