Dating can be stressful. Whether you’re meeting someone for the first time or spending time trying to find the person of your dreams, it can be overwhelming and can result in a less than stellar experience. When dating becomes difficult, it is easy to settle to get out of the dating meat market. Don’t fall into the trap! Here are seven ways to make dating less stressful and find a happy relationship.

Meet more people.

Be open to meeting people every day. You don’t have to be a serial dater to meet people. Rather find people at work, at the gym, the grocery. Why is this important? We put too much pressure on making dates perfect in part because we don’t want to lose the opportunity. Get rid of the scarcity mindset regarding meeting the right person! Lower expectations and just have fun. When you’re meeting people everyday, you’ll know there are plenty of options and be less likely to settle.

Meet the right people.

There’s plenty of fish in the sea. Sound advice, perhaps, but it happens to miss the point. You aren’t looking for more, more the right. There’s really two ways to help ensure you find the right person. The first, and most obvious, is to meet people who have similar interests, who share friends with you, and who you have a great chance of being compatible with. This challenging task has become slightly easier with the popularization of online dating, allowing to get to know someone without all the pressure. The other, less thought about reason to meet the right people? Lose the wrong ones quickly. Understand what you’re looking for and don’t settle for less.

Rejection hurts. But how much it hurts depends on you! Don’t dwell on bad experiences. Learn from them. Keep your expectations in check and understand most dates aren’t going to turn into a relationship. Rejection doesn’t mean you are not good enough. When you have the right mindset, you’ll be less stressed, be able to shrug off rejections, and find a happy relationship that actually works.

Find yourself first.

Start with yourself first. Know what you’re looking for, what you enjoy, and how you want to be treated. Too many people spend most of the dating process trying to impress someone into liking them. Don’t fall into that trap. Be yourself, do what you like, and see where the chips fall. You don’t need someone else to complete you. Understand this and make sure he or she complements you rather than complete you.

Keep it simple.

Dating can seem overwhelming. Keep it simple. Start slow. Grabbing a cup of coffee or meeting at an event you’re both attending can be an easy way to test the waters. Don’t buy into the hype of dating games. Be open. Be honest. And move at the speed you’re comfortable going. You’ll find the process can be much less stressful when you keep it simple.

Be yourself.

Trying to keep up an image that’s not natural can be terribly stressful, plus makes for a forced relationship even if it does work. Being true to yourself will make dating less stressful and more fun. You’ll also find you have a better chance for a happy relationship once you get past the honeymoon stage. It’s easy to overlook flaws in the beginning, but if you stay true to yourself, you’ll have a successful, happy relationship.

Make dates fun.

Dating should be fun! Don’t take it so seriously. Don’t focus solely on the romance. Focus on finding something you both love doing and have fun. If you both love nature, take a walk in the local park. If you’re sports nuts, check out a local sporting event. Find dates that let you be yourself, and most importantly, get to know your date. Don’t fall into the trap of doing a movie and dinner, think outside the box and have some fun. You’ll have a much less stressful and fun experience.