[Hot] How to be single at 50 2026

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How to Find a Serious Relationship When Dating Over 50, According to Therapists. From online dating to dealing with rejection, here’s what to keep in mind when you’re looking for the one. Dating at any age can be daunting but if you’ve been out of the game for a while, it can feel especially intimidating.

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The good news is, once you get over your initial first-date jitters, meeting new people can be a ton of fun and a great opportunity to find someone who could be an incredible addition to your life. The first truth when it comes to dating over 50? Understanding that it’s not going to be anything like it was when you were in your 20s or 30s. “You are not the same person you were back then,” says Pepper Schwartz, PhD, a sex and relationships researcher and author of Prime: Adventures And Advice On Sex, Love, And The Sensual Years . That means who—and what—you’re attracted to will look very different than it did in your younger years. On top of that, if you’ve been out of the dating scene for 20 or 30 years, you’ll come to realize that a lot has changed. For example, behaviors like “ghosting” (ending a relationship with someone by cutting off communication without explanation) and “breadcrumbing” (sending someone enough messages to keep them interested, but not enough to be committed) are part of the new norm. “These behaviors have been around for a long time, but nowhere near the extent to which they are now,” says Deb Laino, DHS, a Delaware-based relationship therapist and certified sex educator. So how can you best navigate all of these changes once you re-enter the dating game? Here are 11 tips to keep in mind when you’re dating over 50. Meeting people online is likely the biggest shift that’s happened since the last time you dated. But for most people over 50, “online dating is where it’s at,” says Schwartz, who recommends using sites that users have to pay for. “That means the company has their credit card, and if they are a bad actor in any way, you can tell the company, and they can bar them from the site,” she explains.Laino recommends sites like eHarmony, Match.com, and OurTime.com. “In my opinion, there’s a higher percentage of finding a relationship versus somebody just kind of fishing for a one-night stand,” she says. Schwartz recommends working on your online profile with a friend and having them “OK” your picture (which, by the way, should be recent—not from 20 years ago, says Laino). And don’t worry if it takes some time to get the hang of online dating. “My experience is that a lot of people who’ve been out of dating for that long—even 15 years or 10 years—have a little bit of a learning curve,” says Laino. Although online dating has become the go-to for most singles, it’s still important to not put all your eggs in one basket. “There should be a rotation of online and face-to-face meetings,” says Laino. “I never think it’s a good idea to just hang out in one area.” Laino recommends having friends or family introduce you to potential matches, going to outings offered by work, and going to meet-up groups like those offered by Meetup.com for things like hikes and book clubs to find people who share your interests. “I think that’s actually a really good use of both online and in person, and it takes away the concept of a date,” Laino says. If those methods don’t work, you can also try a matchmaking service like It’s Just Lunch, says Laino. Although they can get expensive, these services offer a more personalized experience, so you’re more likely to get a strong match right out of the gate. “You’re not just fishing online, you’re actually having someone narrow down a potential mate or two for you,” says Laino. If you haven’t experienced dating rejection in a while, this can be discouraging at best and hurtful at worst. The key here is to not take the rejection personally, as it more than likely has nothing to do with you. “People reject people for a whole host of different reasons,” says Laino. “Sometimes it’s because they don’t have the nerve to say hey, I’m dating a couple other people. Or hey, you remind me of someone. Or hey, I just feel a friendship vibe from you. So they end up just kind of disappearing, and it really comes off as harsh rejection.” If you’re struggling with rejection, Schwartz says to keep in mind what she calls her “pineapple theory,” which goes like this: Someone doesn’t like pineapple, so they take it off their plate when it’s served. But there are tons of people out there who love pineapple. “It’s the same fruit, but for no big reason except for individual taste, it’s a favorite of some and disliked by others,” says Schwartz. “But the pineapple is what it is—neither desirable or undesirable by nature. It just needs to find a pineapple lover.” The same goes for you, too. So the next time you’re dealing with rejection, remember: “You just need to find the person who has a taste for you,” says Schwartz. If you’re dealing with dating frustration, keep in mind that trying to find a partner is rarely a pretty, seamless process. “You may not find the love of your life on the first or second or third date, and that’s okay,” says Laino. “Dating is definitely one of those things that has lots of ups and downs.” Recognize that you’re probably going to have to go on several dates with different people before finding someone you really connect with.