If you’ve been single for a while and you’re now ready to be in a relationship, there are so many ways to find your ideal partner. There are more people in the world now than ever before, so surely finding a girlfriend shouldn’t be that hard, right?
The thing is, in the modern world, meeting new people to date can be a challenge. On the one hand, it’s now pretty easy to just go out and run into someone attractive. But on the other hand, with so many options available in terms of meeting people, there’s always that fear of missing out, of feeling like you’re “settling” because of how easy it is to meet potential dates.
So how do we strike the balance between today’s easy access to singles and the difficulty of finding one who’s right for you? Here’s our guide to how a modern man can find a girlfriend.
Table of Contents
1. Dating Apps
Online dating became mainstream and popular around 2012 with the launch of swipe-based dating app Tinder. This fast-and-furious format attracted younger generations who traditionally thought that online dating was corny.
You may have heard that dating apps are only suitable for meaningless hook-ups, but that’s not actually true. A 2019 poll of engaged and married couples by wedding planning service The Knot revealed that online dating is now the most popular method to meet your future spouse.
Men greatly outnumber women on mainstream dating apps, so it’s key for you to stand out from the crowd with a great set of photos. Perhaps that’s why there has been a huge emergence of professional photographers who specialize in online dating photos. It’s worth hiring one if you’re planning on searching for a girlfriend on these apps.
This list of the most effective dating apps in 2022 will help you decide where to focus your efforts.
2. Out and About
You may not think that meeting a woman in a shopping mall or a coffee shop is particularly “modern”. Perhaps you only associate this as something men used to do before the internet was invented.
Indeed, few modern men are mustering up the courage to approach a woman as they go about their day-to-day lives. But that’s what makes it so effective.
If you can display the courage and charisma to smoothly compliment a woman in the real world, you’ll immediately stand out as being different from every other guy trying to get her attention online.
Personality is incredibly important to women – and you’ll immediately show off so many attractive personality traits by respectfully approaching women during the daytime.
If you struggle to meet women in the world, this guide might give you a clue why that is.
3. Slide in the DMs
This buzz phrase means to send someone a cold message on social media.
It has become an increasingly popular way to make one’s romantic intentions known. The phrase was first coined a couple of months after Instagram introduced direct messages in 2013.
Instagram remains the most popular platform for DM-sliding. The problem is: it has become so popular that you might struggle to stand out in the inboxes of women, no matter how many followers she has.
A unique opening line that differs from “hi”, “hey”, or a generic compliment would be a great start. Start by commenting on one of her posts, particularly an interest of hers that you also have. However, if you can build an attractive profile showcasing a fun and active lifestyle, you’ll be far more likely to attract responses from Instagram hotties.
Your message will appear in a woman’s primary inbox only if she follows you (or if she’s messaged you in the past). Otherwise, you’ll end up in her “Message Requests” folder with the hundreds of other thirsty guys trying to win her attention. Perhaps it’s worth reading our guide on how to attract more active Instagram followers if you’d like to match her number of followers so that she’d notice you.
4. Bars and Nightclubs
With lockdowns and social distancing regulations having now become a thing of the past in most countries, men and women are beginning to feel comfortable meeting each other in bars and nightclubs again.
It’s important to dress well to make a good first impression in bars and nightclubs. From there, you want to focus on having fun.
Women go to bars and nightclubs to let off some steam and enjoy themselves! If you look good and can add to the fun of their night, most women will be more than happy to welcome you into their group. From there, who knows what could happen?
It’s a myth that “no good girls go to nightclubs”. In most cultures, the majority of young women love to go to dance and enjoy some drinks with their friends. If you do too, you’ll have a great opportunity to meet a woman you click with.
5. Your Social Circle
Most women feel more comfortable dating a man who has been recommended by their friends. Presuming they trust their friends’ judgment, they can be more confident that their date will be well-suited to them this way. At the very least, they can trust that he won’t be weird or creepy.
That’s why it can be beneficial for a man to have a lot of female friends. If you are that guy, consider organizing parties or events where these women can invite their friends.
You can also use social media to check out the women in your friends’ immediate circle. No, it’s not creepy if you just ask your close friend something like, “Hey, that girl who commented on your photo looks cute! Is she single?” Or if you’re feeling particularly forward, you can react to or comment on one of her comments. She might just reward you with a reaction or a little message in your inbox.
6. Classes
While you can absolutely meet women in your class if you’re in university, you can also meet them in hobby classes. These days, more and more women are into specific hobbies that help them keep their minds off work. These classes provide you with a huge variety of new people to meet, particularly single women who might have a lot in common with you.
If you’re from a big or medium-sized city, there’s no doubt that you’ll find lots of beautiful single women who are willing to invest their time and money in learning a new skill. If you also have that kind of motivation, then you should definitely try signing up for a fun class like yoga, zumba, pottery, art, improv, and more.
7. Online Groups
The internet is awash with groups surrounding specific hobbies and interests – and it’s not uncommon for people from these groups to create strong online friendships. What’s more, it’s not unheard for these online friendships to develop into real-world meet-ups and romances.
So, don’t hesitate to participate in these online forums and social media groups when you’re bored at home. Who knows what could happen? Your mutual interest in a specific topic could make an intriguing opening message if you choose to slide in a group member’s DMs.
