Dating Hacks Handbook - Hugo Villabona

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even apps that are specific to what you want.

      Where to Find a Date

      Your friends.

      No, don’t date your friends (unless you really want to open that can of worms), but use their social network to expand your own. Go out and grab a drink or join them in a group ac-tivity or hobby. Meeting new people is easier with someone to vouch for your sanity and likability.

      Bars.

      It’s the usual approach, but you don’t only have to go dancing and clubbing. Try your local bar on a trivia night or arcade night if that’s more your speed. Go out, get some liquid courage (not too much), and talk to a cutie about video games.

      Dog parks.

      Love animals? Turn your usual pet-related chores into an opportunity for love and strike up a conversation with a dog lover in between poop duties.

      Go outside!

      For you sports and outdoorsy types, find a group, class, or local team to make your exercise more social.

      Classes.

      Get out of the house and pursue your hobbies by taking a class. You can meet someone who shares your interests and learn something new.

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      Shopping.

      Maybe not when you’re stocking up on toilet paper, but if you’re at a bookstore or a record store, strike up a conver-sation about a band or writer you love. Some stores, like comic book shops, host events or game nights.

      Volunteering.

      Doing some non-profit work can put you in touch with people who care about the same things you do, and you’ll be helping others.

      Conventions.

      If you’re into comic books, sci-fi, gaming, or some other nerdy niche hobby, look for a convention happening near you. Depending on the size, there can be thousands of like-minded singles in the same room. And some sched-ule speed-dating events as well.

      Clubs.

      Find a group for something you like, whether it’s a book club or cycling club, and share your interests.

      Meetups.

      Sites like Meetup.com help you find gatherings of peo-ple who share a hobby or lifestyle. You’ll also find singles meetups scheduled on the site.

      Politics and activism.

      If you’ve got an issue you’re passionate about, share that with others. And if it’s election season, help out with a campaign to meet people who also care about your community.

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      WARNING!

      A few situations are best left untapped for possible dates. Or, at least, proceed with caution.

      The office.

      It’s easy to fall for someone if you see them every day, but if it doesn’t work out . . . you still see them every day. It could also be against your employer’s rules or there could be eth-ical implications, depending on your line of work. If you’re going to do it, the best time to date someone in your office is if one of you will be leaving the job soon.

      School.

      Not recommended. Teacher-student relationships happen, but they’re pretty unprofessional and unethical. If you find yourself tempted, wait until the semester is over. You don’t want your hard work tainted by anything inappropriate.

      Power imbalance.

      If you’re someone’s boss or their partner in a business or creative venture, dating is going to be fraught with compli-cations. It’s hard to separate work from love, and it’s even harder if one of you has authority over the other.

      If it wasn’t clear enough already, the main concept here is to get out of the house. Take risks, meet new people, and try new things. Take a different bus route. Go somewhere in your city you’ve never seen. You’ll feel refreshed and possibly meet someone worth asking out. Or you’ll have a story to tell when you do find a date. If you’re at home on Netflix, your only potential date is whoever is delivering your pizza (it’s an option).

      Looking for Lovin’ //

      Your Online Persona

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      So, maybe you’re shy about meeting people in real life or you want to expand your dating pool further—that’s where online dating can help.

      Online dating can be weird, disillusioning, and sometimes outright dangerous. You can’t really help that the Internet is full of anony-mous creeps. But it can also be exciting and fun if you approach it correctly. First things first, you need a profile.

      All About You

      Profile pic.

      Smile in your profile picture (if you want to), it’ll make you seem approachable. And look into the camera, people feel more connected that way.

      Evidence.

      You can say you’re funny and interesting in your profile, but why should anyone believe you? Mention some personal anecdotes or facts that show what you’re claiming.

      Buzzwords.

      Don’t be something you’re not, but keep in mind how you de-scribe things and what you mention in your profile. Research shows words like “athlete,” “sushi,” and “driven” get a high attractiveness rating. (We don’t get the sushi part either.)

      Accomplishments.

      You don’t have to list your resume, but be confident about things you’ve done. People who mention college degrees get more hits.

      Interests.

      Show you’re passionate about something, then go broad and list other hobbies and activities

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