Why To Start Online Dating At Christmas Time

While our culture of gift-giving and receiving may have become a little over commercialised in recent years, the sentiment behind it remains the same - Christmas is a time for appreciating our loved ones and bringing family and friends together. But if you don't have a significant other to celebrate with in the festive period, all the mulled-wine-drinking, carol-singing, cracker-pulling delight can feel a little lonely. 

Beginning to look for dates online is undeniably daunting, so if you're in any doubt here are a few reasons why now is the best time to start looking for that mistletoe kiss...

1. More people start dating online at Christmas

The month or so between Thanksgiving and Christmas is one of the busiest periods for online dating sites. Not only do more people sign up, but they are more active online overall, with data indicating a surge in messages being sent. This means that if you begin looking for love in December, you are more likely to be met with more matches and potential dates. 

2. People have more time at Christmas

Online dating isn't necessarily a quick fix - online daters spend an average of 22 minutes each time they visit an online dating site, and twelve hours per week engaged in computer-based dating activity. This can rapidly eat into the time you dedicate to work, family and looking after yourself. However, during Christmas holidays you have more time on your hands, enabling you to devote a more time and energy into your dating endeavours. It's also worth remembering that, unlike face-to-face communication, you can take time and care in constructing your online messages or profile. The post mince-pie-feast hours of vegetation can be the perfect time to invest in your love life through the communication you have online.

3. Happiness and disinhibition

Festive feelings around Christmas time make people more likely to take a chance when it comes to love; stealing a kiss under the mistletoe at your office party certainly seems a lot more feasible when you're a few christmassy-cocktails in and Mariah Carey is making you nostalgic via the surround sound system. And, as I hope we all know: confidence is key! Combined with what's been coined the 'online disinhibition effect' - that which makes us freer with our words and emotions when we communicate online or via text - that Christmas spirit could work in your favour by giving you the courage you might need for your inaugural online dating experience.

4. Christmas is a time for reflection

Coming close to the typical new-year-new-you phase of January resolutions, Christmas is very much a time when you reflect on the previous year and what you might do differently in the year to come. Ruminations are bound to begin: why don't I have a special person in my live at the moment? Why did I let my last relationship fall apart? Instead of getting yourself down, let this be the motivation you need to start looking for someone to share a New Years kiss or Valentine's date with: it's never too late!