As a woman who is older (my exact age is none of your business), I can tell you that dating in your 40s and beyond is not exactly a picnic, but it’s not any kind of hurdle that can’t be hopped over.
Yes, in our world, women have an “expires by” date, just like that milk you have in the fridge. I’m not saying this as a feminist thing or going to launch into a tirade about the patriarchy, but if you are a woman over the age of, let’s say, 35, you’re sometimes looked at as over-the-hill when it comes to dating.
And once you hit 40? Oof, your dating prospects seem to narrow. But guess what? Times, they are a changin’, and that particular view, although it will never entirely disappear, has seen a shift. Because with age comes wisdom, experience, and a fair amount of savoir-faire. And dating apps are ripe with opportunities for us.
Want to date someone your age? You can find that online. Want to date someone younger and sow your cougar oats? Also in reach. There’s nothing that you can’t find online, and we are going to give you some great tips for women in their 40s and beyond. You haven’t aged out; you just need to know where to look and how to look for it!
Own Your Age
A lot of women, including myself, have fibbed about their age at one time or another. Why do we do this? I have no idea! There is nothing shameful about aging—it’s not like we can do anything about it.
So, first things first: your age is a tribute to your life, your stories, and how far you’ve come as a person. This is the time in your life when you know yourself better than ever—your wants and needs for a romantic partner and, most importantly, your non-negotiables and dealbreakers. Own this—age isn’t just a number; it’s your lucky charm in the dating world. It helps you quickly see what you want in a partner and what you don’t, saving you a ton of time and emotional bandwidth.
Build Your Dating Profile with Confidence
Creating an alluring, honest, and upbeat profile is super important if you are going to date online! You should showcase your interests, your passions, and what makes you special. Don’t be coy about saying exactly what you’re looking for on a dating app. And being upfront about your age and where you are in life will bring in the kind of matches who appreciate your experience and maturity. Upload recent photos that show off your personality and style.
Tech Literacy: Keep Up with the Times
Online dating platforms are always changing—there are new dating apps and features popping up pretty much daily. When you are in the loop with the latest trends and know how different platforms work, you can elevate your dating experience. Don’t be scared to ask your friends or family for help—if you don’t want to do that, just look up tutorials online to help you get oriented! Being more tech-savvy shows your adaptability and willingness to put your arms around modern dating.
Keep Your Expectations Realistic
Of course you should be optimistic about online dating, but you also have to set realistic expectations about it! Not every dating app interaction is going to be wonderful or blow your mind, and it can take time. There is no magic way to find the perfect match; if there were, no one would be using dating platforms! Your interactions, whether they lead anywhere or are a dud, just make you more adept at traversing the online dating world—and knowing what you want in a match.
Safety and Privacy
As a woman, you know you have to be cautious offline, and online is no different. Always safeguard your personal info, and if you do decide to meet someone, choose a public place and let someone you trust know who you’re with and where you are. As always, listen to your instincts—if something doesn’t feel right, it’s not.
Try Out Different Dating Apps
Different dating apps are geared toward different preferences and demographics. While some are solely used by singles to find long-term relationships, others are more for those looking to meet new people and date casually. Check out platforms that line up with your dating goals. For example, apps like eHarmony or Christian Mingle are for singles searching for serious long-term connections, while apps like Tinder and Hinge lean toward casual dating. And Bumble is a great female-first dating app—they get to make the first move.
Communicate Your Needs
One of the best things about dating when you’re older is you have a much clearer understanding of your needs and boundaries. Don’t be shy about sharing these with any potential matches—whether you are looking for a committed relationship or your personal boundaries, honest communication is the basis of respect and understanding right from the beginning.
Success Stories
Want to hear from some women who took the online dating plunge and are better off for it? Keep reading below for three success stories that show age really is just a number in online dating!
Laura, 52: After a long marriage and a couple of years working on herself, Laura decided to give online dating a try. She met Tom, a widower, on a dating app designed for people over 50. They clicked over common interests in traveling and their love of—get this—disco music. Two years later, they’ve traveled extensively together and have managed to blend their families, which is no small feat!
Priya, 47: Priya had never married and was focused on her career as a university professor. She signed up for a dating app where she could set detailed preferences, which led her to meet Anil, a fellow academic who shared her love for literature. Their connection was instant, proving that it’s never too late to find love—they moved in together after dating for a year.
Michelle, 45: Michelle was pretty skeptical about online dating but decided to give it a try after some nagging from her friends. After making a profile, she found that she liked the control it gave her in choosing who to talk to and when. After a few months of meh matches, she met James, who was one of the “good” ones, and they’ve been dating for 10 months. They’re taking it slow—they both wanted a laid-back pace.
Stay Positive and Enjoy the Ride
Dating at any age can be hard, but it’s also a great opportunity to meet new people and potentially find love. Keep an upbeat outlook and consider every experience as a chance to learn something new about yourself and about someone else! Yes, you’re on the lookout for love, but you’re also in it for some self-discovery. So try to relax and enjoy the ride!
Takeaways
To reiterate, there is nothing wrong with aging, but women dating in their 40s and beyond do have more challenges to overcome when competing with younger women on dating apps.
But we are blessed with a wealth of life experience and self-knowledge that women in their 20s and 30s don’t yet possess, making us uniquely positioned to handle the online dating world with maturity and the confidence to say what we want and not accept anything less.
If you own your age, stay on top of technology, communicate your needs, and keep up a positive attitude, you can and will make solid connections and hopefully find love.
