The Top Dating Tips for Every Age Bracket

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Think you’re too old for the dating scene at 65? Or perhaps you’re closer to your teenage years, and have no idea where to begin? Maybe you’re in your thirties, and you’re concerned that since you haven’t found “the one” yet, you’re doomed to a life of dreadful solitude.

Well, think again. When it comes to dating, you can be successful at any age.

There are a few universal dating rules that will take you far no matter what decade of life you’re in, but there’s also a lot that changes. The tactics that reel in the great partners at one age won’t work at all in another.

Why? In short, this is because we constantly change as we age. We want fundamentally different things when we’re sixty than we do when we’re sixteen, and so we need to change up how we approach the pursuit of love as we go along.

Now, don’t get the wrong idea—these changes are not a downhill slide. They’re an evolution, and dating at one age can be just as fun, exciting, and meaningful as dating at any other. It all depends on you, and how much effort you want to put into adapting to your changing wants, needs, and environment.

If you’re having dating doubts because of your age, we’re here to help. Here are the top dating tips for the 6 main age brackets you’ll find yourself in as time goes by.

Teenage Years

During your teenage years, dating is marked by heavenly heights and hellish lows, which will often happen in quick succession. This is a time of discovery, where you’ll learn the basics of interaction.

Most importantly, though, it’s the time to get to know yourself.

That’s right—your teenage years should be mostly focused on you. You need to feel good about yourself by cultivating self-confidence. You need to learn what kind of person you like to spend time with, and you need to learn that this will likely be different than what your peers tell you.

As a teen, you’re more susceptible to pressure than you will be at any other point in your life. Learning to separate your own wants from that of the crowd is essential to your ability to choose great people to date.

Once you’ve begun to get a handle on yourself, you’ll need to begin learning the bare essentials of dating. Establish boundaries. Learn how to say “no.” Assert yourself, and demand respect and care.

Realize, also, that a breakup isn’t the end of the world, although it will almost certainly feel that way. It may hurt now, but you will get through it. If a relationship isn’t working, admit it and move on with your life.

Learning to date as a teen is like trying to read a philosophy textbook on a roller coaster, but you'll find success by establishing a strong identity and sticking to it.

Twenties

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In your twenties, the dating scene is fraught with opposing forces. Do you choose to get into that committed relationship, or do you choose to date around? Do you devote all of your time to work, or is love more important at this stage of your life? Do you buy that avocado toast or pay your rent this month?

So many questions. Zero answers. Welcome to adulthood.

Your twenties are the time to start asking the bigger questions about not only who you are, but about what you want out of life. This can be the time of your life, and it can also feel like you’re stuck in limbo as you try to figure everything out.

The key to handling dating in your twenties is to stay adaptable and teachable. Your tastes are going to rapidly change as you go through major life events like college, your first big job, and the emergence of your passions and hobbies. The person you were attracted to in high school probably isn’t going to be right for you now, so allow yourself to move on from old habits.

One more thing to remember: dating will never be as effortless as it is in college. This is the time to take advantage of the fact that you’re on a campus full of eligible people your own age who are into so many of the things you’re into. So don’t be afraid to get out there, date a lot, make mistakes, and learn from them.

Dating in your 20s is a time of exploration and learning. Take advantage of it!

Thirties

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Most people meet the person they’re going to marry while in their thirties, but that doesn’t mean you have to, as well!

This is the time when you’ll start seeing rings on all your friends’ fingers. It’s also the time when you’ll begin to start thinking about your “biological clock,” as well as those slight lines that are beginning to form on your face. You may also be worried about the ever-increasing amount of emotional baggage you’ve picked up as time has gone by.

You may be asking yourself, at this point, if you’ll ever find “the one,” or if you’ll end up a crazy cat lady—or man.

Stop. Take a breath, and let all of that go.

It’s easy to become jaded in your 30s, but nothing is more unattractive than a cynic. If you want to continue having dating success, you need to find that sweet spot that exists somewhere between the naiveté and bitter realism.

You can do this by cultivating positive thinking. Don’t dwell on the things you’re worried about. Instead, think about your strengths. Write them down. Be thankful for them. Keep that self-confidence sky-high.

And don’t allow desperation to creep into your conversations. Telling your date about how you can’t wait to have kids with them probably isn’t going to work out when you’re on your second outing.

In your thirties, dating is all about chilling out. The more you worry about finding that impossibly perfect “one” before time runs out, the harder a time you’ll have. Just be yourself, love yourself, and you’ll find that others easily love you.

Forties

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Your forties tend to be some of your most professionally productive years, and you’re probably also feeling pretty great about yourself. Your sense of purpose is more defined than ever.

In short, you know you.

With this newfound financial and emotional freedom, it’s much easier just to embrace who you are and advertise yourself to the dating world as such. Make sure, by this point in your life, that you are being authentically you when you date, and that you’re going for men or women who you can be truly passionate about.

It might be a bit harder, however, to meet people at this point in your life. As responsibilities increase, your free time decreases, and so you might not find yourself hanging out at the usual places where love might be kindled.

And so the key to dating in your forties lies in creating your own opportunities. Arrange outings through online services like meetup.com. Join clubs or other organizations that interest you. Volunteer for a cause you love. Join a church, if you’re spiritual.

Do things that place you in the path of those who are like you. Unlike the old saying goes, opposites do not attract—or, at least, they don’t keep attracting for long. Your forties are the time to forge your own path through the dating world so that you can get exactly what you want.

Fifties

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Dating in your fifties can be an absolute blast, but it’s going to take one very important choice: the decision to remain young.

You are not “getting old,” and you will not label yourself as such. It can be easy to lose confidence as a result of physical changes and emerging health problems, but work to stay positive and see the many, many great things about yourself.

Remaining young isn’t about looks—it’s about mindset. Let yourself laugh. Don’t take life too seriously. Don’t allow yourself to become hardened by negative experiences. During dates, keep things light, at least at first, and don’t dive right into the subject of problems and old relationships and divorces.

Most importantly of all, stay vulnerable. You’ve lived a lot of life and have probably seen a lot of terrible things. Don’t let that keep you from making yourself vulnerable enough to open up to a potential date. Without that emotional openness, dating will quickly feel stale.

Dating in your fifties can be just as wonderful as dating in your twenties. Remain open and lighthearted, and cultivate self-confidence, and you’ll be just fine.

Sixties and Beyond

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The key to successfully dating in your sixties lies in staying active. It might be tempting to just kick back and enjoy your retirement, but remember—couch potatoes don’t get dates.

Now is the time that you can let go of material concerns—kids have moved out, you may be retired, and you’re probably free to do whatever you’d like, whenever you’d like. In many ways, this is the purest part of your dating life—you’re not looking for a partner in order to fill a financial need or to have children. In your sixties and beyond, you’re simply looking for love and companionship, and there’s something beautiful about that.

Never allow yourself to become complacent. If someone doesn’t work for you, be frank with them and move on—there’s no need to waste time.

And just like you needed to create your own opportunities for love in your fifties, you’ll need to do that in your sixties, as well. Resist the urge to withdraw

Finally, now is the time to let go of limiting beliefs. You’ve got six decades of baggage behind you that you need to drop off before you can truly date someone. Don’t waste your time with guilt over past events—embrace the present and live your life to the fullest. Your dating life will be beautiful if you do.