Deciding when it is right to start dating again after the end of a relationship is ultimately a personal issue.
I feel there are however a few basic guidelines that can aid this decision, and I will be looking into a few of them in this article.
In my view, it is not a good idea to begin dating immediately after a relationship has ended.
Often, someone who is newly single will rush into dating as a kind of celebration of his or her new found freedom.
It is important though to take time to mourn the passing of the previous relationship, whether you ended it or you were dumped.
If this time is not taken it is likely that behaviours and habits from the previous relationship will be carried over into to new one, spoiling it before it has had a chance to begin.
When you have decided that you have successfully got your ex out of your system, I suggest a scientific approach.
These days, the Internet allows us to filter out potential suitors that are entirely inappropriate, no more realising that your date is a Vegan as you order a rare steak on your first date.
The Internet should be used with care though.
Think of peoples' profiles as CV's, they are not going to be entirely honest, but it should stop you from meeting someone entirely unsuitable.
I feel that just being lonely is not a good enough reason to begin dating.
The Internet allows us to meet people with incredible speed, this can be a bad as well as a good thing.
I advise making sure you have re-established your own identity before beginning to date again; you will have more to offer a new potential partner if you have.
Lastly, do not feel that it is necessary to date immediately after a relationship breakdown.
It is the most natural thing in the world to look for a mate, but not at the expense of every other aspect of your life.
Being alone can be challenging, but becoming enmeshed in a co-dependent or abusive relationship is to be avoided at all costs.