How to manage your expectations when dating

Being able to manage your expectations is important when it comes to dating. It will save you emotional upset and allow you to keep an open mind when it comes to meeting people. Here are a few things to think about when it comes to managing expectations when dating.

Let go of your ‘ideal’

It’s natural to have an idea of your ideal partner – what qualities and interests they should have, where they want to be in ten years’ time. But this can sometimes escalate into a fixed idea of a person who doesn’t actually exist, which closes you off to meeting people who could actually be right for you.

This doesn’t mean you have to settle for someone with whom you don’t click, but simply to be more open-minded about who you date – you never know who you might fall for.

Don’t expect perfection

It’s important to remember what’s really important when looking for love, likeshared interests and compatibility. It can be easy to let your perspective slip and get hung up on somebody’s bad habits or fashion choices, even if you really like the person. When it comes down to it, these things don’t matter if the person is right – after all, nobody is perfect. Don’t let your expectations get in the way of being happy.

Avoid disappointment when online dating

If you’re dating online at a site like eHarmony.com, expectations play a big part in the process, so it’s even more important to keep them in check. It can be easy, for example, to fixate on someone’s profile, be sure that they’re the one, and then when you meet them, you’re disappointed because they just weren’t what you imagined.

Try not to build someone up too much before you really get to know them. It’s okay to get excited but, if you overdo it, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment if they don’t turn out to be quite the person you’re looking for.

Don’t expect too much from your date

This might sound harsh, but it’s important to bear in mind that before you really enter a relationship with someone, your date doesn’t owe you anything except kindness and respect while you’re  spending time together, and vice versa.

If they don’t ask for a second date or they don’t call you, don’t feel hard done by it– it just wasn’t meant to be. It’s best not to expect these things unless your date has actually expressed interest in seeing you again.

Remember, managing healthy expectations doesn’t mean you have to lower your standards. It’s just a way of protecting yourself and keeping an open mind when you meet a date. For other dating advice and tips, click here. Happy dating!