Dating is hard. It's difficult to find time and meet someone with the same busy schedules and interests. But it is possible to maintain a successful relationship with the right amount of dedication and effort.  Read on for some top dating tips for a busy single.

Does the thought of finding time for a date make you feel overwhelmed? This article includes plenty of helpful tips on how to date as a busy person, such as keeping your phone off during meals or talking on the phone so you can focus on conversation, taking advantage of texting for get-to-know-you small talk, and scheduling get-togethers for weekday mornings so you can get more sleep that night.

Why is it so hard to find time for dating in today's world?

We’re always travelling, working late hours and meeting deadlines. With social media, work, and other obligations in the mix, it can be difficult to find time for dating.

How do single people with overloaded lives make time for dating? With so many things competing for our time, it can be hard to find a spare moment for a date.

It is not always easy to find time for dating when you are too busy, especially if you’re a workaholic with a jam-packed schedule. However, there are some tips and tricks to make your dating life smoother even as a busy single person.

How to date when you're super busy

Sometimes you feel like you are just too busy to date. But that does not mean you should not try by all means. It is important to make time for your personal life, even when you are really busy. You can find dating apps, meetups and other events in the area to find the right person for you while still maintaining a balance.

You may be busy. You may be exhausted. You may have a million things on your mind that you need to take care of, but you still want to find someone to spend time with and fall in love with.

We all deserve a little love in our lives, and it can come from many different sources - friends, family, work colleagues, pets - the list goes on. But why not also make a date with a potential partner?

Sometimes it is difficult for people who are tired or share the same schedule as their partner to maintain an active dating life. But there are ways to create time for love in your life - you just have to know where your energy resides so it can serve as fuel for more than one area of your life.

Top dating tips for when you think you’re too busy

• Make use of a sociable dating website: one of the best things about online dating is you can find others who are similar to you, be that interests, hobbies, life goals or even schedules! If you are busy and sociable then check out the UrbanSocial dating site UK created by two single professionals who know just what it’s like to be busy and single, but to want to find a meaningful partner. Their dating site isn’t for one-off hookups, but for those looking for a serious relationship and longterm partner. With regional sites in Ireland, Australia, USA and UK, you can find the right local dating site for singles in your region. Meet likeminded people who also have busy schedules and know you genuinely aren’t using the classic ‘I’m too busy’ excuse when you really are too busy to meet up for a date!

• Take your time with your date: there’s no rush, so take time whilst you are dating to get to know the person and decide whether they are the right match for you before leaping in. You don’t need to spend all your time together, so schedule in a couple of dates each week and enjoy each others company away from your otherwise hectic schedule, before calling it an official relationship.

• Schedule your date nights, just like work meetings: schedule time on your calendar and ask your date to set aside the same specific time of the week. This way the date night has a specific time and day written down in advance. And make an effort (don't just cram them in as something you HAVE to do); dress up, do your hair and make up, buy a new perfume etc. 

• Decide what’s important to you and prioritise it: Do you want to have a successful career and a fulfilling relationship? If so, it is important to be mindful of the time you allocate to both your work and your significant other. If you really want something then you will have to dedicate time to it.

• Have a no phone rule during meals: time with your date should be quality time with your date. if you’re constantly distracted by work then you’ll never concentrate on the other person or give them your full attention. Set a no phone rule during date meals by keeping your phone switched off, on do not disturb, or out of sight and mind. Give your attention to each other for the date.

• Stay in touch, even when you’re busy: It’s easy to keep in touch nowadays with online dating apps, email, WhatsApp, text message, Facebook, messenger, phonecalls, video chats, the list goes on! Just because you might be slammed with work and can’t see each other in-person, it doesn’t mean you can’t stay in touch and get to know one another through other means. Take a five minute break from your work and call your date for a catch up!

• Make the most of your available time: So you might be working late at the office and you’ve got a lunch date already planned with your boss, so when can you make time to see the person you are dating? Be proactive and meet ehm for breakfast or coffee before work! Like I mentioned before, where there’s a will there’s a way, and if you really want something then you will make it work out.

• Find someone with the same hobbies and interests as you: another great tip is to find someone who shares some of the hobbies and interests you do in your spare time. That way, you can meet up and do them together, whilst it also serving as a date, but not using up anymore of your limited time!

Dating when you’re super busy: there are ways to make it happen

Dating while busy is a challenge. As we know, we all have limited time and so it can be hard to find time for anything more than work and sleep. But it is not impossible.

This article should have given you some great ideas on how to find time for dating even as a busy professional. Good luck!