How to cure dating fatigue

3. Stop scatter-gunning

It can be tempting to date as many men as possible when you're looking for love, but it's counter-productive.

You won't have the time or the inclination to make each man feel special, and that's the key to making him interested in you.

It's also a risky business to accept dates with a few different men at once. In the US, people tend to date lots of 'prospects' at once before deciding to 'go exclusive' with one. It's a recipe for confusion and jealousy. You shouldn't have to compare two or more men to know whether you like one of them.

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4. Bypass the also-rans

Fear of being single often drives us to accept dates with men we don't really fancy. Plenty of us also stay in relationships that aren't working, simply because we're scared of not being in a couple.

While you're wasting precious time with Mr OK-I-Suppose, you could be missing out on Mr Right. All that time you spend with the wrong man is time you could be spending having a great time with the right man.

If you find it hard to cut and run, remind yourself that you're wasting Mr OK-I-Suppose's time as much as your own. Set him free to find someone who really wants him.

5. Rethink your 'must-have' list

Being too picky can lead to dating fatigue just as easily as not being picky enough.

If you have a very narrow idea of your 'type', you may keep dating men who are wrong for you. That's why it never works out.

You're also condemning yourself to constant disappointment, because no-one lives up to your idea of your perfect type. No wonder you're sick of it all.

Take some time off. When your dating energy is back and you're itching to get out there again, try out a man who's a bit different from your norm. Chemistry is a very tricky thing to predict.

6. Look under your nose

You're surrounded by potential boyfriends: men you work with, men you're friends with, men who've been in and out of your life for years. Sometimes, the one you're looking for is so close you can't even see him.

Not always geographically close, of course. That chap you met online and started emailing months ago, but never met because he lived hundreds of miles away; maybe he's the one for you after all?

Or maybe it's the bloke you had a fling with in your first job, before separating when you moved to different ends of the country?

On the other hand, maybe Mr Right really is living next door...

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