How to Meet Someone Without Online Dating

We live in a world where few clicks can get us anything we want — a new purse, fresh veggies, Italian takeout, or a new partner.

Dating apps have taken the romance out of relationships. The thrill of meeting someone new at the bookstore and slowly progressing your connection doesn’t seem to exist anymore. Instead, we surrender yet another area of our lives to the Internet and hope for the best.

It’s perfectly reasonable if you don’t want to let go of the traditional ways of meeting new people and want to experience a movielike meet-cute that will go down in the books as one of the best moments of your existence. This begs the question — How to meet someone without online dating? Let’s dive in, shall we?

Ask Your Friends

One of the best ways to meet someone is through your mutual friends. Your friends (probably) know you the best and have been with you through your past relationship ups and downs. They know what you’re looking for in a significant other and can tell if someone’s good for you.

If you have a large group of friends, chances are you know someone who knows someone, so why not give it a chance? Your friend can introduce you two or set up a blind date, and then you can take it from there!

Don’t forget that family and colleagues can also play Cupid, so don’t be ashamed to ask for a set-up.

Make the First Move

If you see someone you’re interested in, don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation. The whole narrative of men having to make the first move is outdated and, frankly, a bit sexist.

The worst that can happen is they’re not interested, and you never have to see them again. But who knows, maybe they feel the same way and are too shy to act on it — so you could be doing them a favour.

And you have so many places to engage in friendly conversations with strangers — a grocery store, gas station, the library, a mall. Even if nothing comes up from it, you’ll have gained much more confidence. Who doesn’t want that?

Sign Up for a Class

Meeting someone with common interests is a big push forward from the start. It can be anything from cooking to painting to kickboxing, as long as you enjoy the activity you choose and don’t force yourself to change just to fit into someone’s perspective of you.

The class setting takes the pressure off “dating”, and you can get to know someone without all the bells and whistles while learning and investing in yourself.

Even if you don’t end up finding your “perfect match”, you get to come out of the experience with broader horizons and possibly a new skill set.

Go to a Coffee Shop By Yourself

I know this sounds counterintuitive but bear with me. Going to a coffee shop by yourself can be really empowering and it’s one of the best ways to meet people in real life. Pick up your favourite book or take your laptop to do some work while enjoying a hot beverage. You’ll feel like you own the world. And this energy is contagious. Soon enough, someone will be drawn to you and approach you, especially if you start going to the same place regularly.

Meeting someone at a coffee shop is a cliche, but for a reason. Who says you can’t have the same destiny as your favourite movie character?

Pick Up a New Hobby

Rock climbing, hiking, dancing, take a pick. There are so many fun activities just waiting to be discovered. And nothing breaks the ice like a shared interest.

With “hot girl walks” starting to gain popularity on social media, who knows how many amazing people you can meet if you partake in this activity.

There’s only so much Tinder can do if you don’t click with the person in real life, so try to look for someone you’re going to have fun with and share at least some of the same interests.

Speed Dating

Sitting across from someone for a few minutes and getting to know them before moving on to the next person is a great way to meet people if you’re shy or don’t have the time to go out on dates.

This one is obviously more on the traditional side, but it can be a really fun way to meet a bunch of new people in one night. And who knows, maybe you’ll find your soulmate!

Go to Events

No matter where you live, all cities have events going on almost daily — from art shows to food festivals to concerts. Check out what’s happening in your area and go alone or with a friend.

People go to these things to let loose and have fun after a work day/week, so it’s more than likely you’ll come across someone that wants to talk and have a good time.

Join a Gym

The gym is such an underrated place when it comes to meeting a special someone. You share the space with the same people regularly, and you already have something that’s equally important to all of you.

Being active can be a foundation for a healthy and long-lasting relationship. You can bond over your love of working out and then grab a post-workout protein smoothie together.

Night Outs

Going out to bars and nightclubs is a tried-and-true method for finding a partner. It can be a little intimidating, but putting yourself out there is worth it.

Gather your friends and hit your favourite bar. Try to enjoy yourself and have a good time without the pressure to “find someone”. If you do actually find someone you like, you can ask your friends to introduce you, or if you’re feeling bold, go up and talk to them yourself. A little liquid courage is always welcomed in these situations.

Wrap Up

There are so many ways to meet someone without online dating. It just takes a little effort and getting out of your comfort zone. The experience of traditional dating is definitely worth it, so don’t think twice before embarking on the journey.

Heartbreak is an inevitable part of life. But you can never grow without it. So don’t be afraid of getting your heart broken, for the joy you’ll feel getting to know and falling in love with someone will always be worth it.