A guide to dating after divorce

In these modern times, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately nine in ten people marry, but about one half of first marriages end in divorce. According to the statistics compiled by the UK government in 2005, 45 percent of marriages in the UK will end in divorce. It is still possible to date and have a life after divorce, and have a good time while doing so. Read this guide to learn more about dating after divorce.

Be selective

When you are divorced, the temptation is to begin new relationships quickly. This is a mistake. Be selective, take advices from The Mirror and shop around. Look at dating sites like Match and Dating Direct and Mysinglefriend. Create and respond to ads in the classifieds. Do not rush. Take time to get to know yourself and rebuild your confidence and self-esteem. Not working on your self-esteem will mean that you will most likely end up in a relationship that is not necessarily for you. According to a study conducted by Willaim B Swann Jr, "people with low self-esteem tend to create relationships with others who evaluate them negatively."

Say what you want

Do not be afraid to say what you want. If you are asked a question, answer it honestly and don't say what you would have expected. If you do the latter, you will remain unhappy and not find a relationship that is truly healthy.

Take your time

Do not rush into dating and furthermore, do not rush into staying in a relationship right away. If the relationship does not feel comfortable, do not be in a hurry to keep it going. If you feel uncomfortable, let it go. You can always try again with someone else. Kids and divorce can be complicated. You need to take their needs into account as well. If you rush into another marriage that does not work, it will not be fair to them or to yourself. While it will not be helpful or healthy to allow them to control the situation, it will not be helpful or healthy to rush into another relationship that doesn't work. Keep separate residences until you, your children, if you have any, and your future beau are ready to go forward together.