Saturday, November 26, 2011

"Home For the Holidays"- Dating Tips

There are plenty of opportunities to mix & mingle and reconnect with Potentials (people you might want to date!) during the holidays.  Make sure you take advantage of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve to maximize your chances of finding that special someone, even if you will be traveling Home for the Holidays!

ATTITUDE
First off, this year, you will have a positive ATTITUDE about the holidays.  No matter where you are going for them, your new outlook on the holidays is this is a time to meet new potentials!  That cute guy or girl is right around the corner.  Positive thinking always helps your outlook on life and the task at hand.  You’re going to have a great time this year.  You are open, lovable, and ready to meet that Special Someone.

TRAVEL
So, you are waiting for your flight (and you usually have TWO hours to waste for that) and you have a new mindset that you are going to do the holidays different this year.  What can you do?  Hmm..let me think!  There are a whole bunch of people going to YOUR DESTINATION that you have at least an hour to waste with!  Meet some of them!    You don’t have to try to meet the opposite sex here.  You can make an acquaintance with someone of the SAME SEX and voile -you have a new friend that can possibly introduce you to a set of people that you don’t know in your hometown!  TALK to those around you.  Exchange business cards.  Ask them if there is anything fun happening in the next few days.  You could be invited to a party.  If you are able to really connect (say on a business level with the person, or if you have something major in common, like a frat or sorority or church/club affiliation) invite them to lunch while you are there.

Use the LOUNGES in the airport if you can.  GROUPON (or was it Living Social?) had a deal recently for a low cost to use Delta’s Sky Lounge for a few trips.  If you want someone who is likely going to be sitting in FIRST or BUSIENSS class, get into those fancy lounges and chat them up. 

Same thing with however you are traveling (train or bus).  Start being friendly! But remember not to try to set up a date right away, just a friendship.  You don’t want to come off like you are a player.  Just keep it friendly.

NOTE: You can also ask people that are waiting for your flight (going to your destination) if they know of any cool spots to hang out or where the happening spots are.  There might be new spots that have opened up since you moved away.  You want places to go where you can meet some cool people.

Networking is great to expand your social circle and possibly meet The One, so talk! 
Talk to the person sitting next to you on the plane if they are open.  You never know who you are sitting by and who they know, so ask them a few questions.  At least ask if they know of anything fun happening or where the best places to chill are (jazz spots, clubs, etc.).

SHOPPING
So Thanksgiving was great.  You’re full of food; you’ve caught up with all the family, the holiday is over.  What happens the next day?  Yes, that’s right!  Black Friday!  But I don’t need anything, you say.   Sure you do!  You need to meet that special someone!  So what do you do?  You get up in the morning and head out to the popular stores!  But it will be a nightmare, you say.  Not for you!  It’s only a nightmare for those are that really shopping.  You are just people watching!

I’m not saying you have to get up at 3AM.  But do get up, have some breakfast, and hit the stores.  Black Friday is great, as well as just before Christmas.

Ladies, you especially want to hit the stores like Best Buy and Radio Shack or at least go to the electronic section if you are at a discount or department store.  That’s usually where the men will be.

Men - department stores are good to meet women.  But keep in mind that women shop longer than you do, so if you spot a cutie, don’t wait until she is done shopping.  That could take hours.  Start a conversation early. 

Do lunch around shopping.  People who have shopped are going to get hungry and want to eat.  Of course if it is Black Friday they may head home to finish off the Thanksgiving leftovers, but then again, leftovers might be for dinner, so have lunch out and be friendly to who’s around.

If it is a town center type place or Mall, you can simply hang out.

Women, if you are hanging out – some guy is going to try to talk to you.  It’s a given as long as you don’t have a scowl on your face.  Look pleasant.  Say Hello or Happy Holidays! Be open to talking.

Meet at least ONE new person – male or female.  People are always chatting in lines with the people around them.  Strike up a conversation (don’t forget to have something in your basket, even if it is just a CD or DVD.  You must buy something).

Take this seriously.  You are using this holiday time to really make some connections, so make a real effort.

GATHERINGS
If you meet someone new while you were travelling, shopping or elsewhere, and they tell you about a party, brunch or gathering of some sort – GO!  Remember, this is a new you, a new time where you are going to do things differently.  This holiday season is about meeting new people and making connections.

Throw your own party if you have the means.  Some of you will be at home with parents or family and can’t ask others to come over, but some of you can.  It doesn’t have to be fancy.  Invite people over and ask them to bring leftovers from Thanksgiving.  Or if you have enough leftovers for everyone, tell them to just bring the drinks, desserts or ice.  Ask them to bring a friend you don’t know and you’ve got new connections!

RECONNECT
And that brings me to reconnecting with old friends.  This party can be a ‘reconnection bash’ where you invite people you forgot about or haven’t seen in a while. 

The internet is spectacular for finding people you lost touch with!  Use Facebook!  Try Classmates.com or Reunion.com to reconnect with old classmates.  See if they will be home for the holidays, too. Contact people BEFORE you travel home and set something up in advance, even if it is just “coffee catch up.”

SEARCH
To meet NEW people, look up singles in the city you will be in on Match.com or whatever dating site you are on, or free sites like Craig’s List or PlentyofFish.  Respond to interesting Craig’s list ads.  Send messages to Match.com members that are located where you will be going and let them know you’ll be around for a brief time.   Don’t forget to follow the safety measures when meeting people online!

Try MEETUP.com to see what activities or parties are happening in the area during the dates you are there and GO to something. Make the holidays a time to reconnect with old friends, meet new people and have some fun!  You never know what can happen!

Happy Dating!!!

For more tips, get the teleseminar “Holiday Hookups: Dating Strategies for the Holidays” at http://www.kikistrickland.com/

Kiki Strickland is a matchmaker and certified relationship coach for singles. She is affiliated with the Matchmaking Institute, Coaches Institute International, and RCI, The Relationship Coaching Institute. She has been matchmaking and working with singles since 2006.  Visit www.keeshastrickland.com for more information.

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