Me 26F feeling hopeless about dating. Why is it always about sex? ALWAYS!

I was in your shoes just six months ago before I found my SO (on Tinder!), so I can definitely relate. I've read through much of this thread, and it's clear you need to adjust not only your strategy but your entire mindset.

  • Stop thinking about sex (and appearance in general) and start thinking about compatibility. I can appreciate that you might be objectively attractive. I am also an objectively attractive female. But that wasn't the focus of my dating life. I made it clear what my interests are in my profile, and I looked for guys with similar interests. HE needs to fit into MY life, without me compromising what's important to me. Attractive guys are a dime a dozen, find someone with a good personality before you even agree to a date.
  • Stay sober. Going on dates where no alcohol was involved really allowed me to get to know people quickly, and importantly, allowed me to assess our compatibility right away. Dinner, coffee, ice skating, art museum, long walks in the city... all of these dates I went on soberly and had a great time.
  • Shut down ANY sexual advances. This includes the guys who start a conversation with "hey sexy/gorgeous/beautiful/etc." A guy who hits you up for sex right away isn't necessarily a bad person, but he is not the guy for you right now. Block them, ignore them, you don't have to respond to these guys, and you SHOULD run. Run far away from them.
  • Decide what you want and then look for it, but be prepared to make adjustments. So, think about the aspects you want in a partner. Does he need to be funny? Does he need to have similar interests to you? Does he need to be in your same career field? Whatever your criteria is, really think hard about what you want. Once you decide that, start getting to know people, but know that no one will hit every single checkmark on your list. Find someone who meets enough of these qualities that you can forgive the ones he doesn't have.
/r/relationships Thread