Ready To Date Again? I've Got You! Setting Up Your Dating Profile To Meet Your Needs Is Super Easy. Here's How...

So, you've been single for some time now. The last relationship really shook things up for you. You probably never thought you would date again, or maybe you were more than ready to break up and find someone new - your special someone.

I've heard dating app horror stories, as I'm sure you have too. From the trolls who are simply looking for a hook-up to the catfish, I can't promise you that you won't run across them, but I can promise that not everyone on the apps are like this. While you sort out the weird to the fake, making sure that your profile tells your story is highly important.

1.) Be specific with what you want:

Of course we don't want to put too much out there when we are creating our profile. You don't need to give an intense lesson on your wants, needs, likes, dislikes, etc, but you want to transparently show what you are looking for. What does this mean, sis? Well, making sure that you are stating exactly what you are looking for when setting up your profile. If you are looking for something serious, then you should be putting that. Don't sugarcoat anything because you are afraid that you won't get any matches. I would rather get only a few matches than hundreds of potential suitors who just want to go out for drinks and hook-up. There is absolutely nothing wrong with voicing your needs. How else are you going to find your future bae if you are afraid to vocalize what you want for yourself?

2.) Pictures speak a thousand words:

Chile, do they?! If you plan on doing this or are having thoughts on doing the following, please don't. Do not put your profile picture as a picture of you and your bestie or you and someone else in your life. It's confusing and can throw off the men or women who are swiping left and right. The pictures you put on your profile say a lot about you. Pictures of you in revealing clothing can say one thing, while a picture of you in casual clothing say another. If I were you, I would not choose a picture of me with my shirt off or a bikini as my main profile picture. We don't want to look like we are trying hard and seeking attention. Besides, if you are looking for something serious, why would you give off the vibe that you aren't? Pictures of you doing things you love are a plus. They show your personality and that you like to have fun. So if you are into basketball, choose some pictures of you playing. If you are a traveler, post a few pictures of you in other countries; let them know you like to do nice things and go nice places.

3.) Tell them about you without telling too much:

I briefly talked about this above, but I think it's only right to make this a category of its own. When you are filling out the "about me" section on your profile, it is completely normal to be specific as possible; you do want to match with someone who shares similar interests. However, you do not want to give too much detail about yourself away. When I mean "detail," I'm talking about a lengthy summary of everything about yourself. You want to put the things about you that matter, but what is also not going to scare anyone away. For example, if you have a masters and phd, it's totally okay to place that in your profile, but do not go out your way to explain the history behind getting these accolades. You can brag, but don't make it seem like you are actually trying to brag. This can be intimidating.

4.) Give yourself grace for putting yourself out there:

The last bit of advice I have is to be patient with yourself. Putting yourself out there can be nerve-wrecking. I think we all can agree that change is scary, but sometimes necessary for growth. It definitely takes a lot of courage to date again after being in love with someone. I would suggest to start this journey with no expectations. Don't feel forced to meet someone immediately. If it doesn't "feel right," chances are it isn't. Use your good judgment and most importantly, trust your gut.