Is one of your new year resolutions to develop new connections and potentially find love?

You are not alone. The first Sunday of January is officially 'Dating Sunday', when dating sites see a surge in likes, swipes and messages. 

Sites like Hinge, Match and Grinder all agree that this is the day for seeking and initiating new conversations on line. In fact there is even the perfect time, 9.05pm.

Why are daters more active during this time?

It's all part of a New Year’s resolution to find love. Hinge’s Love and Connection Expert, Moe Ari Brown, LMFT, explains:

“As we move into the first days of the new year, many people find themselves reflecting on the past year and visioning for the year ahead. The new year marks a shift from one chapter to the next and offers us the opportunity for a reboot. For daters looking for connection, the New Year energy also brings hope, promise for renewal and fresh starts to their dating lives.”

How can YOU prepare for Dating Sunday?

We have pulled together the top tips from on line dating experts, including Hinge, Grinder, E-Harmony and Bumble.

Embrace "Dating Forward” 

Focus on intentional and thoughtful actions that create the love life you want. Think through your goals for the new year and make intentional changes to how you approach dating. This is good advice from Hinge.

Freshen up your profile.

Most of the apps will recommend regular updates of your profile. Fine-tune your look and feel. You’ll want to update your interests, profile prompts, and photos to reflect your current self. Ideally any photos you choose should have been taken recently.

Include some top conversation starters that’ll have potential matches jumping at the opportunity to chat it up with you. Tell them how you spend your free time, what you’re passionate about, and what matters most to you.

Be authentic

Don't be afraid to show your true self. The goal is to find the best matches for you—not some fictionalized version of you. Dating expert Adele Kelleher says “If you hate partying, don't say that you love to go out every weekend,”. Similarly, if you only go hiking or walking once or twice a year, don't make yourself out to be an outdoor person.

Look for green flags

Research supports the notion that the human mind naturally tends to focus on the negatives, or red flags, of a given situation, including dating. Be aware of the positive components that matter to you, and look out for those when searching profiles.

Initiate the conversation

We all know how bad queer women can be about starting conversations. But if you like someone's profile reach out. They are probably just as nervous as you.

Be safe

Sadly there are some people who sneak on to dating apps who are not what they seem. Beware of catfishing (someone creating a fictional on line identity). Never transfer money to someone you have not met in person. Don't share intimate photos online.

And if you do meet up for a date, make the first one a public space. Let a friend know where you are going and the time.

And if you don't like dating apps?

You are not alone. 

In fact I know from running Out & Wild and the other events I do that queer women and non-binary people are growing tired of apps. 

Online dating can be good, but just make it one part of what you are doing to develop new connections.

In 2021 Out & Wild was mentioned in this Tatler article, all about where queer women were finding love How The Lesbian Community Is Reinventing Modern Dating | British Vogue

Try and go to events where you might find others with similar interests. Check out the Out & Wild Event Facebook Group. As well as our own events we let others post events across the UK. And we often feature events in our own newsletters.

If you want to better understand how you show up in a relationship and get some great advice on love, check out Out & Wild's Relationship Retreat we are running with the queer experts from LoveLab Out & Wild and LoveLab Relationship Retreat 7-9th March 

Polly Shute, She/Her, is the founder of Out & Wild Festival and Events and Co-Founder of OUTspoken Speakers. She is an award winner LGBTQIA+ activist and charity leader.