Yep, it's that time of the year again. As the calendar flips to 2015 and the "New Year, New Me!" posts flood social media, it's about time you make some resolutions that probably won't last more than a month.
In case you're one to finish what you start, here are 10 resolutions to improve your dating life in 2015.
See also: 10 Things We've Learned from Tinder
10. Don't contact any exes.
You know who contacting an ex works for? Drake. Because he can make a fortune for writing a song about the encounter. You, on the other hand, get nothing positive from contacting your former lovers other than confusion and a wide variety of unwanted feelings. What better time to decide you're never talking to any exes ever again than a new year?
9. Go on a vacation with a date.
A lot of people seem to think that going on a "couple's trip" to somewhere awesome is only appropriate if it's a serious relationship. We understand that you don't want to just share a possibly life-changing experience with someone who'll be gone in six weeks, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go. If the opportunity to go somewhere cool with someone you're only loosely dating comes up, take it. There's no better way to get to know that person than being stuck in an unknown place with them, and you can always crop them out of the photos later.
8. Look for dates in new places.
If you keep going to the same bars/clubs/Whole Foods to find the person of your dreams, you're just going to keep finding the same types of people that haven't been working for you in the past. Since people tend to go to the same places over and over again, you can't count on your future significant other always going to one of the places you frequent, but by going to a new spot, you might be stepping into one of theirs.
7. Cut ties with any and all dead weight.
We know how tough it can be to break things off with someone, but if they're not making you better, 2015 might just be the year to call it quits. Dating or being friends with someone who you believe is holding you back is the worst, and finally getting yourself out of the situation can be more freeing than that feeling of taking your shoes off at the end of the night. It'll suck at first, but use the new year to turn the page on those dead weight people in your life who are preventing you from being who you want to be.
6. Don't go to your "date restaurant."
Everybody has a "date restaurant." It's that spot that you go to every (other) week with your significant other. It's the place where you take a new flame for one of the first few dates because it's romantic, but in a "you" sort of way. Let's face it, you've either tried everything on the menu by now, or you've eaten the same few dishes hundreds of times, so it's not like you're going there for the new dining experience. Get out and try different places around town. You might even find a better "date restaurant" going forward.
5. Date someone with an accent.
Accents are hot. They're particularly attractive when you live somewhere (like Phoenix) where most of the general population speaks in a boring non-regional dialect. Since we can't expect Phoenix to suddenly adopt an accent, you should try dating someone with one. It doesn't matter if it's a thick regional accent (see: Alabama, New York) or a foreign accent, it'll make routine conversations a lot more fun. Sure, it might be a little tougher to understand your date at first, but you'll have a whole new appreciation for the English language by the end of it.
4. Make a new weekly "activity" date.
Whether you're in a committed relationship or just starting to see someone, having a regular activity the two of you do together is one of those things that can help strengthen a relationship in a hurry. It doesn't matter if you're going hiking, kickboxing, doing yoga, or just taking a stroll through the neighborhood, it's nice to actually get out and do something once in a while. You and your lover(s) will have plenty of time to sit on the couch in 2015, make time to do something a little more active, it'll be good for you in multiple ways.
3. Go on a date with someone outside of your "type."
Better yet, why don't we just leave the notion of "types" in 2014 altogether? Really though, we totally understand that you're more attracted to some people than you are to others, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give the rest a chance. Imagine if you ruled out certain groups of people from being your friend because they weren't your "type." We're not saying you have to get in a committed relationship with someone you're not comfortable with, just give a chance to one person who you wouldn't normally consider going out with.
2. Don't date anyone who doesn't value you.
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It's kind of a wonder that so many people still hold on to relationships that are clearly bad for them. If someone treats you poorly, don't date them. It's that simple. Odds are, there's someone out there who would think you're awesome and is just waiting to meet you. Why make that person wait longer so you can spend more time with your crappy future ex?
1. Learn something new about yourself.
The best way to improve your next relationship is to improve yourself. Think about it this way. You probably have at least as many annoying habits as your exes do, but if you're aware of them, you can work on not letting them ruin your relationships. Or maybe you learn that what you thought you wanted was wrong all along. Or maybe you learn something completely unrelated. Regardless, how can you expect to work things out with someone else when you can't even work things out with yourself?
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