Since there is no magic spell that can bring a woman to your doorstep or rather out on a date, you may want to consider some practices to successful online dating. Attracting and impressing a woman online is not rocket science. Being an elderly, you may have enough experience in do’s and don’ts of dating but not in online dating.

Here are some online dating tips:

• Don’t talk about your troubled past

If you want your online date to stop contacting you, talk about your bad relationships. This is one behavior that can easily put off the woman. Your sexual past should not be brought up as well as your bitterness or bad divorce.

• Refrain from sending pictures of your private parts

Sending a picture of your most prized anatomy is not ideal at all. It is a complete turn off to women. The gross approach may be intended to let the woman know you are interested in sex. But as humans, we are all interested in sex without necessarily showing off our body parts. Therefore, get to know a person first before taking the step to show then your assets.

• Respect her requests

Respect her to make her feel safe during the first date or phone call. This not only shows you are a gentleman but also that you understand and care about her safety needs.

• Build some connection first

Connect with a potential love interest first before showing off what you have in terms of physical assets. Women may want to know if they like you first. Showing off or being boastful may seem ideal for an elderly when dating online. On the contrary, it may become boring and the woman might tune out the minute you begin mentioning what you own and where you have been.

• Use right grammar and sentences

When communicating using email or texts, use proper grammar. Construct sentences that ensure the online date knows you are at least educated and can have a proper written conversation.

At your old age, you are looking for someone mature and serious minded. Gone are the days where looks would play a great role when dating. Now that you are a lot wiser, and know what you want and who you are, you are in good position to find a compatible mate.

Be yourself

Don’t mirror to charm someone. Be yourself. Go for what you want and do what you love doing. You will be more comfortable as you than as someone else. Furthermore, you will be able to attract a person who likes you for you and not someone you are not.

Try a new activity

A new activity or activities can expand your social circle. If you are into dancing, visit the dance studio and connect with other people there. Find an activity that brings people together and creates an opportunity to know other people.

Consider online dating sites

Online dating sites can help you find your soul mate in your old age. Many websites offer senior dating services for singles over 50. Find the right site that suits your requirements.

Visit busy places

Busy places give you the potential to find a mate. The places include concerts, malls, museums, health clubs, airports, sporting events and volunteer events. You will find persons who are interested and those who are not. Chat people up and take it from there. If someone you talk to is not interested, don’t pursue them. You will find someone who is.

Keep it light

Have a good time on your first date. Don’t take it too seriously like a job interview. Enjoy your date’s company. Prepare conversation starters and continuers. Talk about things you are into and experience what each of you has to offer.

Rid of pre-date jitters

You can get over your pre-date jitters by communicating with your date before actually meeting. Use emails or talk on phone to connect and rid of the jitters. You can busy yourself before the date or call your friend for help.

Start with friendship

Don’t fall in love fast. Get to know your date first. Know if you are comfortable with him or her before taking it to the next level.

I know some of you are thinking – or maybe testing out the waters a little – of going back to the dating scene. It can be a little bit scary and doubtful since you may have been feeling out of practice and kind of rusty in this department. Never be discouraged though, below are some pointers to review before you get back into the dating scene:

* Times may have changed but there are some things that don’t really change. Like your being a gentleman to a lady or someone you have just met. Also, I understand that there are about a hundred ways to meet a potential partner nowadays, like online dating or in a social networking sites however, these methods prove to be a little bit risky for seniors so might as well explore traditional ways like meeting someone new through a mutual friend or joining groups and associations.

* It was said that the world has two females to a male ratio. That means that the odds are on your side. Add to that the fact that females outlive males so if you are one of the fortunate ones who managed to still live today, then your chances of finding a partner are greater than, say, 10 – 20 years back.

* Go out and make yourself known. Surely, you don’t expect girls to come knocking at your door. If you have decided to become a hermit inside your own house then don’t expect a partner anytime soon. It takes a little effort from you, you know, and the girls won’t even know you’re up for grabs if you hide under a rock.

* Make yourself presentable. A little of good grooming will not hurt you. I can understand that seniors need to be at their most comfortable but that doesn’t really mean you can let go of yourself now. Think Harrison Ford, that’s who you should be looking up to.

* Always be on the safe side. Just because you are now on your senior years, doesn’t mean you don’t have to wear protection anymore when having sex. Casual or not, you still need to be protected as AIDS doesn’t really know age.

* Don’t expect too much from an online dating site. Remember you are treading new waters here and at the same time trying to get back into the dating scene, don’t expect to be a master of both at the same time. Another thing, you are most likely to be having a lucky day if you find a girl that is truly looking for a partner since most of these girls online are just trying to have some fun without really exposing themselves to people.

Take for example our favorite cougar Demi Moore, does she look anywhere near 50? Certainly not. So if you would like to land yourself a young man to date and be a certified cougar then dig into these simple tips and act now!

• Abandon all inhibitions. This seems to be the hardest of them all especially if you have been “Miss Prim and Proper” for too long that the title is now firmly attached to your forehead. If you would like to be a cougar then you must play the part unless you prefer to be living a double life like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
• Do a major makeover. If you have been monitoring fashion and trends, you know that what seems to be pleasing to the eyes 10-20 years ago are really hilarious nowadays. Good news is, you don’t have to sport that beehive-do or the raccoon eyes anymore when going out. Just buy yourself a couple of lifestyle magazines, burn the midnight oil familiarizing yourself with latest mod then hit the stores to update your closet. Just make sure that you are still age-appropriate. If you are not so sure, ask your friendly sales assistant and she’ll gladly help you choose what looks good on you.
• Invest on some really good undies. Yes, that’s right and no, I am not talking about Fruit-of-the-Loom-kind of undies but more of “Victoria Secret” kind. Your young stud would be delighted to see something like this underneath your clothes. Yes, comfy, grannie undies are definitely out.
• Avoid talking about your life’s lessons. Your grandkids would probably appreciate a little bit of that but definitely not your cub-date so cut the storytelling and do something spontaneous and fun.
• Be ready for some action. Not just closed door action but something that you definitely won’t do on your own like climbing Mount Everest or skinny dipping. You must remember, you’re asking for it, so you should be ready for it.
• It’s not all about sex. While it’s really hard to bag the right guy, as much as possible, try to date only the “potential mate” kind not the “one-night-stand” kind of guy. Except of course, if that is what you would really like to date.

Below are some of the reasons why you should not shy away from potentially happy and romantic golden years of your life:

1. You know what you want. By now, you are not easily confused of what you really want and need in a partner. Older adults have a clearer vision of what they are looking for in a partner and seldom engage in something temporary, unless they like it exactly as that.
2. You are surer of yourself. You know your strengths and limitations and you recognize and accept them as part of the whole you. Older adults seldom pretend, they come as they are so pretty much, there will be no unwanted surprises as the relationship happens.
3. Better judgment. It is hard to be living all these years and not be able to have a good judgment on people, young and old. Somehow, experience taught you what kind of people to avoid and whom to trust.
4. You now have priorities. One good thing about being old – and wiser, I assume – is that your priorities are now in their rightful places and you know how to manage them the right way. By now, you know how to balance your priorities, obligations and responsibilities without complicating other areas of your life.
5. Dreams and goals are never a problem.  When we were younger, our goals and dreams are usually the factors that affect our relationships and surely you have seen broken marriages just because it got in the way of one’s dreams. In an older relationship, this seldom happens since we’re almost done with them.
6. You don’t expect too much. Or if you have expectations, they are usually realistic and doable. You no longer believe a partner could give you the moon and you don’t expect them to give it to you anyway. You settle for what they are and what roles they play in the relationship. Moreover, you are not easily frustrated if you find a flaw or the partner came up short.

I know. Speed dating and the aging population don’t usually go hand in hand but really, who says it cannot be enjoyed by seniors too? In truth, seniors can benefit from this type of dating since it won’t require one to invest too much emotion only to be disappointed in the end.

The beauty of speed dating is, well, the number of choices you’ll have at a given time.  They are a real time-saver. Also, remember our golden rule for first dates? Yes, safety in numbers; in speed dating, you don’t have to worry about your safety, and no one really expects you to take home a date after a round of speed dating. They are as casual as can be. Best of all, you get to meet other singles in your area or a group of people who belong to same interests as yours. This might be the solution if you are experiencing cold feet prior to entering the dating scene after a long time of being attached to someone.

Speed dating works in such a way that there will be two groups of interested singles, usually men and women, then they get to talk as pairs until you complete a round—that is, you get to talk with each and every one belonging to the other group. As pairs, you are given a limited time to talk, usually around five minutes which is just right to determine if there is a “spark” or chemistry going on between you and person you are talking to. If there is a downside to this, it would be the inability to further impress a person you are interested with since you are obligated to go through the whole process (switch partners every 5 minutes) and finish a round. However, the arrangement is best and beneficial if you happen to meet a creep and don’t want to be bothered ever again by this person.

Nobody expects you to like everyone in speed dating. Of course, that is impossible since we are dealing with a bunch of strangers however, the odds of finding a suitable mate is greater than going out on a date with just a single person. Also, you don’t have to prepare yourself elaborately for a speed dating, just a couple of questions to get you by and then you move on to the next.

•    Hot sex is age-related. You know that isn’t true. If it were true then Ashton and Demi would have long been separated and there will be no successful May-December love affairs other than those unrealistically “unconditional” partnerships. Hot sex can be enjoyed no matter what your age is, it can even be done without penetration, as long as you both get yourselves satisfied with the act.
•    You must always have raging hormones. Unless you’re a late bloomer and you are just experiencing your “adolescence rush” then it is not possible to always be in the mood for sex. In reality, a normal person will be very well satisfied with average 4 times a week of sex and it will vary greatly from one libido to another. Never expect yours to be any different.
•    Everything you see in porn is true. So not true even if porn claims to be the greatest sex education instrument ever invented by man. For one, how can biggie penis sizes be ever true? You don’t just get that in real life and it is not always about the size especially at a certain age, say, 70ish?.
•    Being sexy is shedding your clothes in front of your man. Even your man won’t confidently shed his clothes in front of you even if his life depends on it, I bet.  Let’s face it, as we age, there are things we rather keep to ourselves and one of them is the shape of our tummies. However, you can still feel sexy—and actually be sexy without being an exhibitionist. Try on some sexy lingerie that will cleverly hide your embarrassing parts.
•    It is too much physical work. It need not be, unless you prefer it to be. In order to have a fulfilling sex, both concerned parties should be able to connect perfectly, not only by using their bodies but they should also be in-tune with one another emotionally. Remember, it should not always be physical, it can also be emotionally satisfying.

If you are looking for Valentine gift ideas, you shouldn’t be here as this post is not all about gifts but will take a little effort too. Valentine’s Day is not all about gifts by the way. Indeed it is sweet to receive a gift from someone you love romantically but it should be more than that, Valentine’s Day is a day when you should receive and give affirmation of love. That’s the most important part of a Valentine’s Day.

For the clueless, please drop the flowers-and-chocolates combo, let’s do something creative and worthwhile this year, what do you say? Try these unique but simple Valentine ideas for your partner:

•    Go out on a date like it’s your first time. For the gents, try to rekindle the old flame by asking your partner on a date and act like it’s your first time. That includes asking her where she wants to eat and what to do afterwards. Kiss her goodnight and you are sure to be rewarded the same night!
•    Redecorate your bedroom according to theme. It should be red, of course, however, you don’t have to repaint the whole room as you can do simple restyling tricks to make it “romance-inducing” such as throwing a sheer red cloth over your lampshade (just make sure it’s safe to do so or you risk burning the house), light a few incense to titillate his nose and perhaps replacing your cotton bedcovers with silk ones. Lastly, you can play soft music to maximize effect.
•    Browse through sex stores–online. You don’t have to go and expose your aging self out there as there are many sex stores complete with catalogues and tips online. This way you remain discreet but still be able to prepare for Valentine’s Day. Don’t worry about getting it delivered as well as most online sex stores promise to wrap your purchases as inconspicuous as possible.
•    Go for couple spa weekend! This is the greatest way to distress, renew and enjoy all at the same time. What’s more, massages are really good for seniors like you and your partner.
•    Eat outside, under the stars. No need for five-star accommodation and the works, just your simple backyard bbq will do just fine.

•    Kissing every time you see each other. Did you kiss your partner on your way out or perhaps when you got home? Kisses are not only good for your relationship but it does your health some good too since it triggers several psychological processes of your body which leads you to feel good about yourself. Kisses also suggest intimacy thus strengthening your bond as a couple.
•    Hold his or hand—even in public. The strongest confession of love must be the desire to hold your partner all the time, oblivious to people around you. I myself find it touching if my partner suddenly and out of the blue covers my head to protect me from drizzle. The unconscious action which uncovers your partner’s true desires must be the best expression of affection.
•    Snuggle whenever the opportunity strikes. Upon waking up, while watching TV or listening to music, after a hard day’s work or it’s cold outside and there’s nothing to do but snuggle. Snuggling is also good if you are looking for a way to distress so you must do it more often.
•    Say “I love you” every single day. This is you affirming your partner that he or she is indeed loved. Very much. There’s no way around it, if you really love this person, there should be no problem for you to do this every single day. There’s no reason for you to be embarrassed as well.
•    Snuggle when in bed—with or without sex. As long as you two sleep in one bed, there should be no “his and her side” of the bed. It is meant to be shared, and in order for you to get the full benefits of sharing a bed, you need to snuggle, and snuggle hard. Enough said.