3 | 4994 views
Dating in this day and age can be exhausting. Most people are too busy to go out in public, let alone find a date in person. That's where online dating comes into play. Thousands of singles flock to the internet every day looking for love, others just want someone to talk with, even if it's only once. When someone on a dating site contacts you and asks you out, it can be tough to say no. You might not want to hurt their feelings, or you might be worried about what they'll think of you. But the truth is, it's okay to decline a date request; and there are ways to do it that will keep everyone involved feeling good about the exchange. Here are a few tips to make it less awkward:
1. Thank Them for Their Compliments or Flattery
Sometimes, someone is just looking for a conversation. It's always good to be nice and conversational, but you should also take into consideration that they might just want flattery or compliments. If this is the case, thank them for their compliment and tell them you're flattered but not interested in dating right now. This will keep everyone feeling good about the situation.
2. Politely Say That You're Not Interested
If you don't want to lead someone on, the easiest way to decline a date request is to simply say that you're not interested. This can be done in a polite way, such as "Thank you for asking, but I'm not interested." You can also be more forward and say "I'm not really interested in dating right now." This will let the other person know that you're not interested without hurting their feelings.
3. You Can Explain Why You're Not Interested
If you want to give the other person an explanation for why you're not interested in dating them, you can. However, keep your explanation short and sweet. Try not to turn the conversation into a long explanation about how you're just really focused on your career right now or that you just broke up with someone else. This will give them hope that maybe in the future they can be a candidate. If you want to give an explanation, it's best to be brief and focus on your current status rather than future plans.
4. Don't Make Excuses
Don't make excuses for why you're not interested in dating right now or why they aren't a match for you. This can make you look less confident and will probably hurt the other person's feelings even more. If you're not interested in dating someone, simply say so, regardless of your reasons for being busy or not wanting to date.
5. Use A Non-demand Approach
Non-demand approaches are a great way to let someone know that you're not interested without hurting their feelings. You can say something like "I'm really not looking for a relationship right now" or "I'm just not feeling it." This will let the other person know that you're not interested without making them feel like they did something wrong. Plus, if you're just not feeling it with the other person, a non-demand approach is a good way to let them know before even going on a date.
6. Be Honest
If you don't want to go on a date at all, be honest about it. There's no reason to lead someone on if you're not interested. You can say something like "I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in going out." This will let the other person know that you're not interested and they won't have to wonder what happened. Honesty is always the best policy when it comes to dating.
7. Explain that the Timing isn’t Right
A lot of the time, you might just not be ready for a date. The timing might not be right or you might just need some more time to work on yourself before going out with someone else. In this case, it's best to explain that the timing is off so they don't get their hopes up. You can say something like "I'm sorry, but it's just not the right time. I hope to go out with you in the future." This will let them know that there is a chance for dating down the road, but that you're not ready now.
8. Make Sure Your Tone Is Nice
If you want to be nice about it, make sure your tone is polite. You don't want to come across as rude or uninterested. Remember, you still might have to see this person again and you don't want them to have a bad impression of you. Use phrases such as "thank you for asking" or "I'm sorry, but I'm just not interested." You can also use a positive tone and say "I'm really not looking for a relationship right now" or "I'd rather go out as friends, but I'd love to stay in touch." This will let them know that you're busy with your own things, but still want to be friends.There are many ways to decline a date request, but these tips will help make the process a little less awkward. When you're not interested in someone, it's best to be honest and polite about it. Declining a date request doesn't have to be difficult if you follow these tips.
Photo: Daniel Berkman / Adobe Stock
Editor, 09.12.2021
