Dating After Divorce

Jumping back into the Omaha dating scene as a newly divorced single again can feel like free falling head first over a gorge. Not only have dating styles perhaps changed since you last put yourself out there, but so has technology, certain etiquette related to that technology, and expectations.  Not to mention the overwhelm that dating apps cause, it’s no wonder divorcees feel so lost, and have no clue where or how to start again.

First, it’s important to remember to give yourself plenty of time to heal from a divorce. Leaving a marriage, even though you may have been emotionally ready to do years prior, is still like a death. A death of your old self, an old routine, and is essentially a catharsis that takes time to adapt to. So, allow yourself at least a year before getting back out there. Take time for YOU. Heal, see a therapist, make time for old friends, be alone and feel OK with that. Most importantly, if you have children, spend extra time with them, especially! They’ll need that time to adjust as well and will need to know they have their divided parents’, undivided attention. 

You also want to make sure that you know exactly what a healthy, long-term relationship looks like, especially if you were married to someone abusive or narcissistic. Having that as your model of a committed relationship during the X number of years you were married may have had an affect on your judgment.

When you find that you are finally ready and willing to put yourself back on the market, consider hiring a local professional matchmaker and paying a little more for a quality Omaha dating service before hitting one of the many dating apps. Not only do they pose a risk to your life if you meet a psycho, but you also have to wade through thousands of spammers, cheaters, married men/women, and singles purely looking to hook up. You get what you pay for, so consider that because there is zero investment in a site like Tinder or Bumble, the people who tend to use these sites aren’t investing much else of themselves in other areas either (like actually looking for a serious relationship). 

Once you have a road map of a partner that makes you happy, give attraction and chemistry a chance to develop, even if it takes five or more dates to figure it out. Then, look carefully for the “interior” traits that count, like kindness, reliability, consistency, honesty and intelligence first.

Finally, if you still feel wary or anxious about going about dating in Omaha solo, remember that our Omaha Love staff are reputable, qualified, experienced relationship coaches, and have coaching programs tailored specifically to dating post divorce! Ask your Omaha matchmaker for more details, and remember, we are here to help you find the next love of your life.