Stop worrying about being judged for being single and shout out that you're looking for love. Photo / 123rf
Stop worrying about being judged for being single and shout out that you're looking for love. Photo / 123rf
If you're without a person to kiss at midnight on New Year's Eve and you're not happy about it then it's time to take the bull by the horns when it comes to finding love in 2017.
Instead of being passive and spending time swiping on different apps to find the one, the author of How to find a Prince and Marry Mr Right, George Watts, has some golden rules to follow, the Daily Mail reports.
The London-based wedding planner urges men and women to stop worrying about being judged for being single and shout out that you're looking for love, and insists you should always go on that second date.
Check out his top 10 tips for finding your soulmate below...
Don't restrict yourself, broaden your horizons! You won't meet anyone doing the same things with the same people week in week out.
Putting yourself out there by connecting with groups or joining Facebook pages on a local level is also a great way to meet new people living in your area with similar interests.
Even joining the local gym in 2017 could be a great place to start - who knows who you might bump into at the water cooler! And remember, a fabulous feeling you on the inside radiates on the outside. A little body maintenance and post festive shape up is obviously great for our general well-being
Not committing wholeheartedly to the task of finding Mr or Mrs Right instantly sets love hunters up for a fail.
Nowadays we all tend to be a bit lazy about the whole thing, thinking we can just sign up to an app or website and happiness will just land on our laptops. Wrong. The dating environment is more competitive than ever and therefore you need to give 200 per cent if you are really in the zone to make a success of it.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM, MOVE ON
Never persevere with someone for the sake of it when you know it's time to move on. Reserving energy is paramount in this game, because finding 'the one' can be both mentally and physically exhausting - especially when you just want to head home after a long day in the office ten first dates in!
But, in saying that, I have clients that went on 20+ dates before they found a match and now they are happily married. So the effort does pay off in the end.
RELAX AND STOP SECOND GUESSING
We tend to try and second guess what the other person is thinking when on a date, but it's important to remember that they are in the same boat too and we should just let go of all that pointless anxiety.
Actually, the things we worry about or are conscious of in ourselves, are generally just that - issues in our own heads. Focus all your energy into positive thoughts not negatives when starting out in your quest to hunt out a happy ever after.
Stop thinking about what the other person is thinking about you. Relax and focus your energy on positive thoughts. Photo / 123rf
A click with another person cannot be forced - especially when it is not reciprocated. Don't try and morph into something you are not to please anybody else. Just be yourself and let nature take it's course... with the right person!
SECOND DATES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE FIRST
On a first date be conscious of whether somebody is open-ended in their behavior or trying to shut a situation down.
If you feel like they want to keep chatting - keep chatting! Intrigue after all is the greatest initial aphrodisiac. Lust and physical attraction are secondary.
If upon a first meet you are left wanting a little more, but can't quite put your finger on why or what it is, then go on that second date post haste, you may well have just found the love of your life!
Tell anyone and everyone who will listen that you are single and ready to mingle! I joke a little, but actually people love to play cupid.
A tongue in cheek post on Facebook or Twitter about heading on a night out to find a potential suitor may spark an introduction via a friend of a friend that you never considered or knew of before.
Make a joke, but be genuine in the subtext. You are single and you'd rather not be, so don't hide it!
FIND A HOBBY
Meet new people by joining a local group, or find something that interests you like cooking and book yourself a spot in the class. Photo / 123rf
Preparation is the key to change. Think about potential routes to ignite a first flutter of hope. And yes that does include committing to online dating, but don't dismiss looking at what might be staring right in front of you in real time on your own doorstep.
Think about your hobbies or interests and hunt out a local group you can join to help meet people with similar interests.
And if you don't have any beyond watching reality television and hitting the pub with your friends of a Friday evening, randomly pick three and give them a try! I know it sounds a little daunting in many ways, but there really isn't anything to lose.
LOVE YOURSELF BEFORE ANYONE ELSE
When you find someone you like start thinking about the future and where you want to be, if it's not right move on. Photo / 123rf
If confidence is an issue, try to embrace and love you a little more before beginning to think about anyone else.
This is key to finding love in the first place. Non-verbal communication is the most powerful of all our sexual senses and anybody that oozes confidence from the inside out is the ultimate turn on for any man or woman
STOP AND THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE YOU WANT
On a subconscious level we are constantly observing a potential life-partner, but we need to make it more of a conscious thing to better inform our decision making before committing for life.
The problem is most of us don't stop and think about the future when we are in the thick of something that seems to be going well.
This is a fatal error because actually what we need to do is exactly that - stop and think. Is this relationship going to be where I want it to be in ten years time? Having a conscious word with ourselves and being brave enough to act upon it is the best move in securing that happy ever after.
AND FINALLY...
Routines breed boredom, a little randomness is also good for both heart and soul and your relationship too. Effort on all fronts is the secret ingredient to keeping the spark alive 40 years in.
Attention seek with each other, not an outsider. Life, love and laughter are my three favourite words in the world and making the most of them all in equal measure is your ultimate key to success.
