TRY, BUT DON’T RELY ON, ‘NICHE DATING’ SITES

We all know about Tinder and Match – but there are specific dating apps for every taste, look, hobby and preference these days. Emma supports trying them, but urges open-mindedness

These days, apps T promise to connect you with your perfect equal, with sites for “educated” singles, “sporty” singles, gluten-free singles, “muddy” singles (those who like the great outdoors), short singles, tall singles, tattooed singles and a whole host of other singles, looking for love. Meeting someone with similar interests may seem like an obvious desire, but it’s also important to cast your net wide.

THINK LIKE A BOSS!

Hobbies are like your career; you may have qualified for or started out doing a particular type of job, but you don’t have to do that for your whole life – you can turn your hand to many different professions. Similarly, just because someone doesn’t say they’re interested in photography or the great outdoors, doesn’t mean they wouldn’t love to be introduced to such experiences.

WIDEN YOUR CRITERIA

A common error people make when dating online is setting tight parameters. You think you’re separating the wheat from the chaff by restricting by age, height, job and passions, but you’re actually missing out lots of people with potential. A sporty guy may not think that’s his most important attribute, but he may share your values and personality traits, yet you’d miss out, because he’s not on the “sporty singles” app. It’s completely acceptable to look for love on sites that you feel fit with your own worldview, but it’s also worth trying the more “open” options. Put it this way: on paper someone might appear perfect, but in real life, they can fall short. They may share the same music heroes and have five tattoos – but they may also have zero sense of humour, and no enthusiasm for having a family.

LOOK FOR VALUES

Lasting relationships need three traits: compatibility, shared values and similar personalities. These are less to do with the way someone dresses or the films they’re into, and more about the intrinsic nature of the human they are. Be open, because when you are, your world is full of possibilities – plus, each of you enjoying your own independent hobbies keeps life interesting.