Any man that finds himself thrown into the dating pool after 50, will find it a bit intimidating at first. And while things have changed, they haven’t changed that much! There are still the awkward first dates, figuring out how to meet women in the first place and the challenges of finding the “right one”. That said, men over 50 have some clear advantages over their younger selves but you need to know how to leverage them. LiveWell Placements is here to give you some tips so that you can get back out there, have fun and look forward to finding that someone special!
The numbers are in your favor
Sorry ladies but if you are reading this, it might be a bit depressing! However, for men over 50, the pool of available women is much better than it was when you were in your 20’s. For every 1,000 births, by age 50, women outnumber men 954 to 920, according to a U.S. statistical report. At 65, it's 871 to 791. So, the odds are in men's favor. However, that doesn’t mean that you can be a boring and still have women fawning over you!
Google yourself
The chances are good that a woman will look on social media before deciding whether she wants to date you. Check out the search results when you google yourself and make sure you don’t have anything to worry about. If there is misinformation or bad publicity, you may want to try to correct it or at least have an explanation for it without being defensive. And make sure that your Facebook page doesn’t have anything on there that you will embarrass you later!
Don’t bait and switch
If you are on a dating site, present yourself as authentically as possible. DO NOT put a photo of you from 20 years ago and hope the woman won’t notice your older when she meets you face to face. DON’T put a photo of yourself in front of your expensive car. You just look shallow and insecure. DO put a photo that shows you smiling and doing things that you enjoy and that you really do for fun. If you are not into mountain biking, don’t show that photo of the one time that you got on a bike and later fell over the handlebars off camera. Be genuine and show who you really are inside and outside. Presenting your authentic self will attract a more interesting and down to earth woman who won’t feel duped when she meets you.
Dress the part
Ever seen the commercial where the guy’s wearing a t-shirt that’s stretched out and his date says, “you look really comfortable”? What she is really saying is that her date looks like he didn’t make any effort. No woman wants to go out with a guy that couldn’t spend a little time on his appearance. It doesn’t mean you have to wear something uncomfortable, but you should definitely not show up in running shorts either.
Keep an open mind
The first date does not have to be perfect. Don’t dismiss someone simply because they don’t check every box. Every relationship doesn’t have to be for life. Try to approach it as a way to meet someone that you enjoy being around and that you can meet for dinner or go to a museum. If it turns out that this woman is “the one” then great but don’t expect that. Be open-minded and try to avoid bringing up all of your baggage in the first conversation.
In summary, try FirstLantic’s tips and you are bound to have a better experience. Remember that you have a lot to offer and you don’t have to pretend to be someone else. That said, you do want to make an authentic (but good) first impression. So, leave the running shoes and the Baseball cap at home and present yourself as well-groomed, confident and open to possibilities.
Check out the best dating sites for men and women over 50.
Do you have a loved one that can no longer live safely at home? LiveWell Placements (a division of FirstLantic) is a free service that helps find the right home for you or a family member.
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