Flying solo this valentine's? Experts share tips to ace the day

Valentinersquos Day mdash a day of celebration for those in love and the unwritten deadline for those who set out to find lsquothe onersquo every year Ageold plays modern romcoms and charttopping music albums have long stood as a testament to the bittersweet tragedy the pursuit of love brings with it As lone rangers set out on the quest to find their lastminute partner today armed with their trusted smartphone and dating app of choice experts share their tips to ensure lsquofallingrsquo in love remains a poetic metaphorKeep it realgtgt Authenticity shines through during such times Donrsquot ape the herd and let your true self come through It helps people connect with you through shared interests and traitsCall your match to confirm their identity before meeting themgtgt Let go of the pressure for perfection Fairytale romances donrsquot come along too often Set realistic expectations and learn from the journey Enjoy the process and donrsquot take it too seriouslygtgt Donrsquot ignore the basic checks Ensure you set up a video call first before agreeing to meet someone in a hurry It helps you have the assurance that you are both on the same pagegtgt Donrsquot let the lastminute scramble cloud your sensibilities Sounding desperate right at the outset and rushing things might put people off and get you nowheregtgt Most importantly donrsquot think twice before severing bonds with a match if something feels off Trust your gut and respect your own boundariesSimran Balar Jain selfcare influencerData behind the dategtgt If yoursquore specifically looking for someone to spend Valentinersquos Day with communicate it through your profile A simple line like ldquoHoping to find my Valentinersquos daterdquo will make it clearFood choices can directly affect usersrsquo dating decisionsgtgt The small details that people sometimes leave blank really count Our recent 2024 survey showed that 61 per cent of single Indians look for profiles based on food choices when making dating decisions gtgt Show off your personality but be a good listener Fortytwo per cent of Indians who took the survey consider a date that keeps interrupting them a clear red flaggtgt Never take the conversation off the app even if you have access to their social media handles The move must feel natural and made with mutual consentSamarpita Samaddar India communications director BumbleInsiderrsquos hintsgtgt Go beyond swiping purely based on looks Yoursquoll be surprised by the incredible humans you will come across This is easier said than done but it is a game changerHumour can be the perfect icebreaker in early interactionsgtgt Donrsquot ask to meet someone immediately Breaking the ice with jokes and shared experiences to bond can be a good segue A mix of humour and wit always works in first few interactionsgtgt Be open to meeting people who donrsquot necessarily check all the boxes at first sight Even if things donrsquot work out yoursquoll have a friendgtgt Take time out to mention what you expect from your potential date and what you donrsquot Being on the same page is the first step to finding the right partnerBikramjeet Singh Bindra founder Shy dating appTake a chill pillgtgt Remember that itrsquos one day of your life and the decisions you make in haste will still have consequences once the celebrations are over Think before making a moveSuggest an activity for the first date instead of the usual dinnergtgt Identify your ldquowhyrdquo Make a log of all the activities you partake in during the day and at the end of the day identify at which point you would have preferred a partner to be with you This process will reveal why you want to date and how you approach it going aheadgtgt Mention your dealbreakers upfront and not after days into a conversation Leading someone on leaves a bad taste in onersquos mouthgtgt Donrsquot date simply because you believe yoursquore inching closer towards deadlines of marriage or settling down Therersquos no set template and people grow at different pacesgtgt Dinner dates are passeacute Spend some time understanding their interests and suggest an activity that both parties will enjoyRadhika Mohta relationship coach