Here is another insightful gem from our chief matchmaker u/matchmaker_brie! You can read the full month-by-month guide by clicking the link, but as a quick teaser, check out her answers to frequently asked questions that arise during dating over 40:
The red flags that matter show up in how someone behaves over time. Love-bombing. Someone who trashes every ex. A person who dodges any real talk about what they want, or who runs hot and cold. Anyone still so raw from their divorce that they can’t be present. When the words and the pattern don’t match, believe the pattern.
Three ways, ideally at the same time. Apps built for relationships, like Hinge, Bumble, and Match, give you volume. Real life gives you chemistry: friends, meet-ups, a class, or reconnecting with someone on social media. A matchmaker gives you vetted, hand-picked introductions with none of the swiping. The trick is to meet new people without letting it become a second job.
It’s a consistency rule for couples, popular as a way to keep a relationship from going stale. As Psychology Today describes it, you go on a date every seven days, spend a night away together every seven weeks, and take a getaway every seven months. For someone dating after 40, treat it as a reminder rather than a rulebook: protecting regular, intentional time together matters far more than hitting exact numbers.
Some really don’t, and that’s fine. But a lot of the people who look closed off are just being careful: protecting themselves after a hard divorce, guarding the independence they fought to get back, or worn out from apps. The caution reads as “not interested” when it’s mostly self-protection. Most people over 40 still want a committed relationship. They’re just holding out for the right one.
It’s a consistency rule for couples, popular as a way to keep a relationship from going stale. As Psychology Today describes it, you go on a date every seven days, spend a night away together every seven weeks, and take a getaway every seven months. For someone dating after 40, treat it as a reminder rather than a rulebook: protecting regular, intentional time together matters far more than hitting exact numbers.
Some really don’t, and that’s fine. But a lot of the people who look closed off are just being careful: protecting themselves after a hard divorce, guarding the independence they fought to get back, or worn out from apps. The caution reads as “not interested” when it’s mostly self-protection. Most people over 40 still want a committed relationship. They’re just holding out for the right one.
Some really don’t, and that’s fine. But a lot of the people who look closed off are just being careful: protecting themselves after a hard divorce, guarding the independence they fought to get back, or worn out from apps. The caution reads as “not interested” when it’s mostly self-protection. Most people over 40 still want a committed relationship. They’re just holding out for the right one.
Here is the full survey which has an abundance of other fascinating stats!
This data on dating preferences was collected by Tawkify from 98,798 people over two years, from April 20, 2024, to April 20, 2026. See the full study here.
