Whether you’re single, dating or in a relationship, these 11 tips are invaluable reminders.

1. Experiment Outside Your ‘Type’

A dating ‘type’ can hinder your chances of finding someone. Don’t we all have a friend who swore they’d only date tall, dark and handsome, only to have fallen for a guy with blue eyes and average height?

A Brides article describes how our type can be based on multiple factors such as early childhood experiences and past relationships. We may subconsciously find ourselves attracted to people who remind us of our past – even if they’re unhealthy.

The physical image of our ideal partner may not match with what we truly want. While I’m not suggesting you say yes to every Tom, Dick and Harry, if you keep an open mindset, you’ll increase your chances of finding what you’re after.

2. Switch up your dates

How often do you go to your local pub or order a takeaway? Dan and I started our relationship with a bottle of wine, Old El Paso boxes and dessert before getting out of our rut.

We started planning new dates, from simulator cricket, a tea workshop, mini golf, escape rooms, and hotel breaks to beautiful towns. Switching up your experiences keeps things fun and helps you to bond.

Through a shared activity, you can collaborate and be more playful.

Dinner dates can make conversations feel forced, but engaging in an activity eases the pressure and naturally fills any awkward silences.

3. Write more love letters

We multitask between work, friends, relationships, side hustles, fitness, hobbies. All these tasks make it challenging to check in with our partners and express our appreciation. And if you’re like me, sharing your emotions out loud isn’t something that comes easy.

Love letters remind the people we love how much we care about them. They’re a great pick-me-up whenever your partner or friend is going through something difficult.

You don’t have to be Shakespeare to pen one. If you struggle with what to say, create a list to use as a guide. You could start with ’10 things I love about you’ or ‘5 things I appreciate the most’. Writing a list helps to get your key thoughts out and prioritise what you want to share.

4. Be mindful of asking friends for advice

Our experiences and upbringings help shape our thoughts and beliefs. One of the challenging aspects of coaching is separating your personal thoughts. Friends typically struggle to take themselves out of the equation. So when they offer input, it can be based on their beliefs and what works for them – instead of what’s best for you.

Sometimes, we have to trust ourselves and take the time to listen to our instincts. Resist the urge to immediately ask for advice.

5. Put yourself out there

If you want to improve your love life in 2025, take action. I know it’s romantic and charming to imagine you’ll stroll past your local bakery and bump into Mr. Perfect. You’ll be in a coffee shop when Mrs Perfect asks to sit at your table.

How can you put yourself in new situations to find someone? It could be about extending your network so you have more people to go out with. Or the answer could be to say yes to more invites. Put yourself in places and environments where you’re constantly meeting new people.

6. Be your own self-validation

Throughout my twenties, I relied on other people to give me validation.  

I remember playing stupid games with guys, asking them if I was pretty enough or if they’d seen anyone better-looking. I had such low insecurity that I couldn’t cope without ongoing attention.

Validation can feel like a drug you constantly want to consume. I’m in a healthy relationship now because I’ve worked and continue to work through my confidence issues.

7. Date without pressure

When I started online dating, I pressured myself to be perfect. I wanted my dates to like me more than I wanted to figure out if we were a good match.

Dating comes with the fear of rejection, disappointment, and the need to sell yourself. If you remove that pressure, you’ll have better dates. What if dating was simply two people talking over coffee and not two people deciding if they would spend the rest of their lives together?

Consider treating your first and second dates as casual get-togethers. Try to hold off from grand expectations and prioritise fun and enjoyment.

8. Support your partner’s victories

In a large social group, I witnessed a woman completely shut down her partner’s achievement in front of all his friends. Her partner confidently discussed a proud moment which she carelessly dismissed. You could see the embarrassment etched on his face.

Whether you think a goal or a victory is boring, if it matters to your partner, why not cheer them on. I know my boyfriend doesn’t care about social media and has little interest in dating tips, but it means a lot when he congratulates me on a new blogging goal or praises a post I’ve written.

9. Accept people as they are

While we’re on acceptance, here’s a reminder that you can’t change people unless they want to change. I have a friend who, for the past year, kept going back to a guy she believed would eventually commit.

Although he didn’t change in the months they dated, she was determined he’d alter his habits. It’s a story I know all too well.

It’s our job to love someone as they are and not how we want them to be.

10. Look at rejection as a new direction

Project Love shares a fantastic quote on rejection: ‘Rejection isn’t failure, it’s just feedback’. I’m grateful today that the people who rejected me decided to reject me. If they hadn’t, I wouldn’t be with my partner.

At the time, rejection feels awful. It can encourage a negative inner voice to tell you you’re:

* Unworthy

* No one will ever love you

* You’re not capable of making someone else happy.

When you face rejection, remind yourself that it puts you a step closer to finding the right person. Rejection helps us understand what we want and what we want to learn about ourselves moving forward.

11. Pay attention to balance

My love life has improved since paying attention to the balance in my relationships and friendships. If a friend contacts me first, I try to reach out to them when we speak.

Or if Dan cooks a nice dinner, I also try to surprise him with his favourite food. It doesn’t have to be such a back-and-forth – that can quickly become a points game of who did what and when. But trying to keep a balance lets people know that they’re a priority.

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Which of these tips to improve your love life in 2025 is your favourite?