Are You Really Too Busy to Date?

Single life hardly means sitting at home on a Saturday night, waiting for the phone to ring. You're a dynamic member of society - you have the busy datebook to prove it. Between work, friends, trips to the gym and relaxation time, you're so jam packed with living that the idea of fitting some loving into the schedule is enough to make your head spin. It's not that you don't want a great partner to come along, you are merely too busy to date right now.

Or are you? The "I'm too busy for a relationship right now" phrase is one used by countless men and women on the go, to the point that many would be suitors view the line as a polite mask on what would otherwise be straightforward rejection. Rather than sending a prospective Prince Charming off with a smile, take a moment to think: is it really that you're too busy to date or are you not ready?

Scheduling Conflicts
If you look at your calendar and realize you have booked yourself solid for two straight weeks, it's important to take a step back and evaluate. No, you don't have to tell your girlfriends that you can't meet up for martinis on Thursday night, but you should at least contemplate whether you are overextending yourself with your social engagements.

Ideally, try to pencil in at least two nights per week that you can devote to yourself - whether that happens to include a long bubble bath, a bottle of wine and a movie or a drink with the cute guy who smiles at you every morning during the daily subway commute to work. By making sure that you have two days free, you are setting aside at least one day for yourself and another to test the waters in the dating scene and see what happens.

Is fitness part of your evening routine? Wake up an hour earlier twice a week to squeeze in a morning run. Not only will that free up the evening, it will also help you wake up more easily and tackle the day with greater energy and excitement.

Working Girl
If you've missed the memo about balancing work and play, it's time to take a serious look in the mirror and reevaluate. While a woman passionate about her career is admirable and attractive, there is a huge difference between loving your work and being married to it.

If your hours are intense, try to compartmentalize. Again, schedule yourself a couple of day where you can leave the office at a reasonable time. Whether you happen to meet up with friends to check out the social scene at happy hour or schedule a dinner date, you deserve the chance to kick off the heels, so to speak, and feel less like a worker monkey, more like a fun human being. Not only will it improve your social life, it will prevent you from burning out too soon.

Consider Creative Date Times
Anyone who says that dates can only take place during the evenings is clearly missing out. If your evenings are booked, why not accept a brunch date or mid-afternoon coffee? Creative date times can provide the added bonus of taking some of the pressure off what might otherwise have been the stereotypical dinner and drinks on a Saturday night.

You Don't Want a Commitment Right Now
If the idea of a serious relationship makes your stomach turn right now, that's perfectly fine. In fact, it's admirable that you can recognize that you are not in the proper place for something long-term. But who said anything about long-term? You're not looking for a spouse, you're looking for a date. By taking some of the pressure off and lowering your expectations, you might find yourself more willing to find some time for fun and, eventually, love.