This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive.

Dating Advice For Singles: Rules That Don't Suck -- And Get You Results

8 Dating Rules That Don't Suck -- And Get You Results
Shutterstock

Buy flowers and chocolate, make fancy dinner reservations and practice conversation starters the night before: It's the dating advice nobody needs to hear anymore.

According to a recent survey by dating website Match.com, Canadian dating attitudes are changing towards paying for the first date, meeting people outside one's comfort zone and making the first move.

"I still think women have the preference of being asked out, but there are changes: Men are warming up and more women are asking men out," says Toronto-based dating coach Christine Hart .

The Match.com survey found Canadian women are becoming more fearless than ever. At least 63 per cent of women have asked men out on a first date, while 85 per cent of them were willing to date someone who didn't share the same political beliefs as they did.

But what do these results say about your relationship prospects in the long run? Hart takes a look at the results and offers her expert opinion with eight dating rules that don't suck:

Making The First Move

8 Dating Habits For Successful Relationships

Making The First Move

BY THE NUMBERS: According to the survey, 63 per cent of women have asked men out on the first date.

SHOULD YOU?Dating coach Christine Hart says 10 years ago, this wouldn't happen, but these days women shouldn't be afraid to make the first move. "We have found a middle ground. If you're asking a man out in a confident and direct way, men are becoming more open to it."

Political Preferences

BY THE NUMBERS: According to the survey, 85 per cent of women have dated someone outside of their political beliefs.

SHOULD YOU? To keep conversations interesting, why wouldn't you? Hart says if you are dating someone who has different political values, make sure you communicate your values within the first few dates. "If you can focus more on where you agree, you could find yourself having the same moral values and ethics." Also, avoid anyone who doesn't respect your beliefs.

Healthy Number Of Dates

BY THE NUMBERS: According to the survey, 70 per cent of Canadians have gone on two or more dates in the last year.

SHOULD YOU? "I think is a great average," Hart says. If you're looking to get back into the dating scene, Hart says coffee dates are easy ways to get back into the game -- don't wait around for a year for dates to happen.

Locking Lips

BY THE NUMBERS: According to the survey, 44 per cent of Canadians wait until the second date to lock lips.

SHOULD YOU? "If there is any kissing on the first date, it should be on the cheek," Hart says. Locking lips on the second date is fine -- often couples find themselves short on time during their first date, which leads to awkwardness during a goodbye kiss at the end of the night, Hart says.

Kissing And Telling

BY THE NUMBERS: According to the survey, 89 per cent of Canadians admitted to telling someone else about their dates.

SHOULD YOU? Make sure you have a few close friends you're willing to share secrets with -- a best friend or a family member for example. "You don't want to go to work and tell five people about your date, you're going to get a mix of opinions that can confuse you," Hart says.

Love At First Sight

BY THE NUMBERS: According to the survey, 66 per cent of Canadians believe in love at first sight.

SHOULD YOU? Well, this one is tricky. Some people do and some people don't, Hart says, but more importantly, never let a bad date get you down. "Don't worry if it isn't love at first sight, sometimes you need at least four dates until you to know someone," she says.

Moving In...Too Soon?

BY THE NUMBERS: According to the survey, 31 per cent of Canadians would move in with their partners after less than one year of dating.

SHOULD YOU? "This is a nice low number. I think you need to know somebody through four seasons before you start sharing places," Hart says.

Split The Bill

BY THE NUMBERS: According to the survey, 12 per cent of Canadian women say they would never pay for the bill.

SHOULD YOU? Never pay? You want to be in a relationship right? Even if you want your partner to pay for the first date, Hart says being in a partnership is communicating to one another -- and offering to pay for a meal or plan a date is always a nice gesture.

Close
This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.