Ditch Your Typical Type And Try Exploridating

The prevalence of online dating has made finding a potential romantic partner feel more like shopping. Rather than going in with an open mind and seeing what's out there, hopefuls are encouraged to filter their dating matches the same way they would narrow down the sale items on their favorite online shopping app. In fact, filtering out those who don't meet your preferences is so important to daters that it's considered a premium feature on dating apps like Tinder.

As reported by Forbes, three out of ten Americans are currently single, and over half of those single are looking to connect romantically. With so many people looking for love, it's difficult not to wonder what might happen if more hopefuls stepped away from the idea of dating only a certain type of individual. If you've been struggling to find the right relationship, it might be time to give exploridating a try by reassessing your dating rules and looking beyond the physical and personality traits you're typically drawn to. 

If the thought of throwing out all your standards for a potential partner makes you start to panic, there's no need to worry. You don't have to ditch your entire list of dating preferences. Start by simply examining them with an objective eye. If you have deep, passionate convictions for things like religion, it may make sense to continue to search for a partner who shares those views.

However, be prepared to fiercely edit your list when it comes to more surface-level preferences. Imagine yourself five years into a loving and committed relationship. Do you think it will matter at that point whether or not your partner is 6 feet tall? Will you care if their eyes are blue or how much money they had in the bank when you met? According to Psychology Today's Roxy Zarrabi, Psy.D., "If you haven't given people who aren't your type a chance in the past, you may be surprised to learn that some of the qualities you thought you wanted in a partner are not necessarily what you need." In other words, be open to setting pre-judgment aside and letting people know you. 

Once you've taken the time to remove all but the most pressing preferences from your dating requirements, the next step is taking action. If you primarily date online, start swiping without your usual filters. The next time you arrange a date, choose a location you've never been to before. If you're more of an in-person prowler, change up your usual scene. When you're constantly meeting people at bars, you're limiting yourself to one category of clientele.

That said, head out to a bookstore, a metaphysical shop, or a cooking class. You could end up finding yourself a new romantic partner and a new hobby or lifestyle you never considered trying before. You might even find that some of those more pressing preferences naturally fall away. As relationship expert Amelia Prinn told Bumble, "Dating someone outside of your type might challenge your core values, attitudes towards life in general, and political views or help you learn how to think outside of the box."