Where do you turn to for dating advice? Chances are it’s a trusted friend, family member, or therapist. Or maybe, it’s the internet. The world wide web has become something of an expert on dating advice in the last few years; a simple search for the term “dating advice” yields over 665 million results in just .58 seconds. So, with that many suggestions, what should you click on first? We rounded up some of the best dating advice articles of 2017 to get you started.
“8 Ways to Have a Better Relationship in 2018” via The New York Times
What makes this dating advice article so great is that it’s filled with suggestions that are actually doable. And they’re the type of suggestions that you know you need to hear and that you know you should take. But hey, sometimes it takes an article reminding you to put away your phone or get more sleep to remember why you should do it.
“Why I Bring All My Baggage on My First Dates” via The Cut
This article so perfectly puts to words that feeling of not knowing how much of yourself to share at first. Should you slowly reveal details about yourself (like being divorced and/or having kids) over time based on how serious you are about someone? Or should you just lay it all on the line from the get-go? The author learned that full transparency from the beginning worked best for her, and reading how her dates and matches reacted is truly fascinating.
“I Eloped at 25, Divorced at 26, and Dated My Way Across Europe All Summer” via Marie Claire
If the headline of this one doesn’t immediately pull you in, we don’t know what will. It’s a whirlwind personal essay about getting married, getting divorced, and using dating apps abroad that reads like a romantic comedy.
“11 Practical Ways To Date In 2017” via HuffPost Canada
We were immediately struck by one word in particular in this headline: “practical.” Because why can’t dating be practical? We put so much pressure on it to go perfectly, which ends up leaving us disappointed nine times out of 10. So, if it helps, try looking at dating as less of a tossup and more of something that you can plan for. It might not work for everyone, but it’s worth a shot.
“16 ways men and women date differently, and first date tips for both” via British GQ
This dating advice article is rather blunt and to the point, but we appreciate the honesty. You might find it a bit stereotypical—for example, not every woman overanalyzes everything, and not every man is turned off by over eagerness—but there are a lot of good truths in here that are worth remembering.
“You’re doing it wrong: 10 new rules for dating” via New York Post
We’re fascinated by the concept of dating rules because they keep changing. Any time a new list or dating advice article insists that we’re “doing it wrong,” we’re all ears. One new rule in particular that caught our eye? A lot of people aren’t waiting until the third date—or even the first—to have sex anymore.
“21 Red Flags That Your Boyfriend Sucks” via Seventeen
The headline made us laugh, but seriously, the advice inside is spot on. Timeless, too. These 21 red flags are things that we have no problem pointing out to our friends, but sometimes have a hard time recognizing for ourselves. In case you need to hear it, here it is.
“30 Truths About Dating in Your Thirties” via Verily
A lot of dating advice articles target specific groups of people: a younger generation, clueless online daters, women over 40, the newly single. But daters in their thirties are often ignored. They’ve been dating for about 10 years now, and it’s assumed that they know what they’re doing. But people in their thirties need dating advice, too! Times have changed for everyone. Single people in their thirties often feel the need to over-apologize for being single. There’s a lot of pressure to be married and have children by the time you’re thirty-something; to some, being single in your thirties might feel like a failure. (It isn’t.) So, let’s see more dating advice articles for people born in the ‘80s, please.
“What It’s Really Like To Be Single In 2017, Because ‘Hookup Culture’ & ‘Dating Apocalypse’ Don’t Define Us” via Bustle
Being single right now is complicated. A lot of people think they know what it’s like. But unless you’ve actually been single in the last year or so, then chances are, you probably don’t. This article helps paint a clear picture.
“9 real people share the best relationship advice they’ve ever heard” via Business Insider
Sometimes, the best pieces of relationship advice are the tried and true ones that have yielded real results. This dating advice article includes quotes from real people about what’s worked for them before. One of our favorites? “When you and your SO are arguing, remember—it’s you and them vs. the problem. Not you vs. them.” So wise.
“The Best Relationship Advice of the Year” via The Wall Street Journal
When we read a dating advice article headline that promises “the best relationship advice of the year,” we’re never sure exactly what we’re going to get. Oftentimes, the list is dated and predictable. But this list was a nice surprise. With advice like “listen, breathe, listen” and “assume the best,” you’ll actually want to take everything it says to heart.
While dating advice will always be subjective, we hope these articles open your mind and challenge what you think you know about modern dating. Now get out there and put the advice to good use!
