Dating Tips for Post-50s

Appearance can be a point of stress for those over 50 re-entering the dating scene. Try to put a positive spin on it.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

Despite the emphasis that our culture places on youth, life experience is a real asset when it comes to dating. Remember, this is your time. As a post-50, you should be blooming in at least one aspect of your life by now, even if it is just the wisdom to know that not every detail is a life-or-death affair. You've gained perspective, and that will make you a great partner! Remember, in midlife there are no excuses for not having an edge on maturity and personal development.

Appearance can be a point of stress for those over 50 re-entering the dating scene. Try to put a positive spin on it. Think of all the great make-up and exercise tips available to you and how you've tested, discarded or added to your personal care routine. You've got looking your best down to a science. The good news is that despite how well off you are or are not in the looks department, you've had plenty of time to pick up speed in what men want most -- entertainment value.

In my 30 years of private practice, I've worked with more men than women. In my experience, men leave their wives less often for women who were younger, prettier, or sexier. They left for women who were more interesting. That's right, women who were more interesting.

Many men tire of working at absolutely every area in their lives and are very attracted to women who can be their cohorts in fun -- women with ideas and multiple topics who are capable of taking initiative and be adventurous. For post-50s who may be slowing down professionally, this is especially true.

How to be an intriguing woman and draw dates who could become mates? Here are some simple tips for keeping your dating life a peak experience:

Weed the garden -- Don't keep dating anyone who doesn't help you feel good about yourself. If you are being reasonably charming and he isn't and he is not mate material and can't make you laugh, by all means, quit -- now. There are better men ahead and deadwood just gets depressing.

Stop shopping for love in all the wrong places -- Anything you've been trying for more than three months (except for online dating) with no return, you've got to give up. Repeating the same old thing hoping for a new outcome is one definition of crazy.

Prince charming doesn't make house calls. To have a dating life, you need a life. Self assign this homework: go out at least three nights a week either with someone dateable or where there is potential for expanding your social network.

Be a social marketer. Put the same initiative you would put into finding a job into romance. Be conscious of your self-presentation, know what you want, believe you deserve it, and be diligent in putting in the time. In love and work, apply Woody Allen's advice -- success is showing up.

Show off -- if you have a good body, exercise in public places, go to the beach, the gym, and hit the slopes, If you have a keen intellect and are up to date on current affairs, join a trivia team, take a political affairs class, and volunteer for campaigns, if you have a lovely home, invite people over, offer it for events, and give a "share the wealth party" where the ticket for admission is your same-sex friend or acquaintance bringing a date they like very much but are not romantically interested in.

Smile frequently. If you don't know how, practice: start with furniture, cats and dogs, children, and then make your way up to full blown adults.

Make lingering eye contact with any man you might be interested in meeting. Then look away and glance back again with a quick smile. Remember the lingering part. Count to 10. Women will glance and think they've communicated interest when in fact their eye contact was so brief, he will be positive he's just been rejected.

Date dress all the time (yes, even when you are running to the grocery) to help attract someone to date you

Have your body speak the language of openness. Uncross your arms. If at a bar, face into the room not away from it. Open shoulders, uncrossed legs, with a full face glance is a welcome. Add a head tilt and it's an invitation.

Fake it 'till you make it -- Do work on self-improvement and expanding your spirituality, education, and health level but don't wait to be perfect. A great confident attitude covers many a flaw.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot