I often talk about how hard dating is in a world on apps and websites and instant gratification. I'm not sure I've ever offered up an alternative solution for those of us who aren't comfortable online dating and we don't spend a lot of time in bars. I'm not sure there's any magical place to find a quality partner, but there are certainly ways to help increase your chances.
Vibe
What vibe are you giving off? We often meet people when we least expect it. But sometimes we scare them off by our actions and attitude. Are you in a good head space to be in a good relationship?Happy and healthy physically and mentally with who you are and where you're at in life? Can you call yourself a good prospect? Start with yourself before you can even remotely come near meeting anyone else worth your time.
Location
Where you live can often play a role in your ability to find someone of romantic prospect. If you live in rural Iowa, you have a limited pool to choose from. If you're considering moving to Utah, you may want to consider there are significantly more married people than single. If you're in NYC/LA/SF - you've got a larger group of eligible suitors in general as well as a more diverse population to choose from.
Work
A lot of people in their mid 20's to mid 30's meet their significant other at work. You're there so often that it's easy to build relationships with the people around you. Now if you work from home, probably not easy to meet and get to know colleagues/potential mates. Similarly, if you're a straight female in the beauty industry, you're not meeting as many options as you would if you were in sports marketing. But keep your eyes open at a large office, there are plenty of single people and at least you know they have a job!
Play
Where are you spending your free time? If you're at bars and clubs every weekend, that's the quality you're going to find in a partner. Spend time in places that reflect the person you are. If you're into reading, go to a bookstore/library/cafe. Love the outdoors? Get to hiking/walking/kayaking. Passionate about fitness? Go to the gym/class/track. The point is, you can't find the right person if you're not into the party scene yet you go searching for the right person in the party scene.
Time
This is two parts. One, are you allowing time for a relationship? I know I've had times in my life that I'm simply unable to (or unwilling to) make time for another person to be in my world. That's ok. Timing truly is everything.
Two, stop going out in the wee hours of the night hoping that Prince Charming (or Princess Charming) is going to be out at this time. Alternatively, don't go to a 5PM dinner and think you're meeting anyone in your age group worth investing in. Focus on the sweet spot times with the appropriate activities. Happy hour 4-6, Dinner 7-9, Kickball in the evenings, Coffee shops Saturdays 9-1. Focus people, timing. is. everything.
Friends
I just want to say please don't set me up with your friends. That whole process is so weird and often times it's friends thinking they're setting you up with some great human and it's not someone you're even remotely attracted to and its all just so awkward. But do pay attention to friends of friends as you spend time in social circles. Often times you're able to connect with people who have similar interests and lifestyles and you know they aren't crazy because they spend time with your friends! It's also great to be able to ask your friends directly about someone you may be interested in. They're able to give you some inside perspective on who the person is.
Chill
This is the biggest thing. Stop spending all of your time trying to find the right person. Stop talking about being single/wanting a partner 24/7. Start living your life. It's ok to actively be open to love and make yourself available to do so, but when that becomes your focus, it's not going to happen. You won't meet anyone worthwhile when all you're doing is making that your daily purpose. It's also a sign you don't value yourself.
I don't know the secret to meeting the right person. I'm not sure there's any secret at all. But there are things you can be doing to increase your chances of finding a quality human to get to know. If that's something you're really looking for, make sure you're going about it in a healthy way and then look to fill your time with some of these tips!
Happy hunting sequins...