Written by Nick Levine

Things hit differently in spring because it's an inherently optimistic and hopeful season. Even if you get rained on, you know your jeans will dry off soon enough, instead of clinging to your legs like itchy limpets the way they do in winter. It's a time when the world feels filled with possibilities and most people are a little more open-minded. Or at least a little less grumpy: cheer up, mate, the sun's out!

For this reason, it's the perfect time to go out and have fun, and enjoy each date without attachment to the outcome. Here are six ways to maximise your chances of finding one by really getting into the spring spirit.

1. Spruce up your profile

Seriously, now is the time to do a little spring cleaning on your profile. If you haven't given yours a second thought since before Christmas, you may be surprised by how much you want to change. It's not just about levelling up with a stunning new profile pic, though obviously, that can't hurt. If your main photo shows you rock climbing – a true dating app cliché – you might want to retire it.

But beyond this, try to step back and look at the content of your profile objectively. Are you representing all aspects of yourself accurately? Are you giving a clear indication of the kind of relationship you'd like? And are you showing your fun side? That's super-important, too. Anything ambiguous, rambling or unnecessary needs to go: a tidy profile is an effective one.

2. Slash through your matches

Spring is a time for fully embracing the new and ditching any dead weight. If you matched with someone three months ago and the conversation fizzled out after a few messages, ask yourself if you really want to try again. Be brutal about it. If you feel that a match is probably going nowhere, don't waste time trying to spark it up again.

I've learned from experience that this more focused approach can make all the difference. Using a dating app feels so much less overwhelming when you have fewer people to chat with. And when you're actually interested in every single one of them, keeping the conversation going is less of a chore. Becoming a "match collector" – as a friend of mine calls people who enjoy matching on apps for the sake of it – is great for your ego but won't help you find a special connection with someone. If you're in the mood for a really fun dating experience, it's about the quality of your matches, not the quantity.

3. Be completely honest with yourself

Another great thing about dating in spring is the fact we're still months away from cuffing season. This means there's less pressure to be cosy and coupled up/smug. And because spring leads into summer, for many of us the busiest and most exciting season of all, it could pay to think carefully about what you want now. If your July and August are already booked up with friends' holidays, family get-togethers and weddings, you might not have time for something super-serious.

Then again, we're all complicated and unpredictable creatures. So, even if you're convinced you're going to be a Casual Cathy for the next few months, don't close your mind to the possibility of something more involved. You never know who you might match with tomorrow.

4. Try an active date

The big, big disclaimer here is that active is a relative concept. I once agreed to a first date at a spin class – yes, really – and learned the hard way that I'm not capable of being witty and charming when I feel like I'm about to vomit. Similarly, a date based around a 5k park run probably isn't for everyone, though I have a friend who bonded with her now-girlfriend over post-jog brunches, so each to their own, really.

But, if you find the standard sitting-down-in-a-pub date a bit awkward and boring, you might want to consider something more energetic. Options that aren't too sweaty include a game of mini-golf, drinks at a bar with ping-pong tables, or a purposeful stroll through your local nature trail. There's an obvious bonus to going on this kind of date: if the person you meet turns out to be obnoxiously competitive, you've found that red flag early.

5. Keep things as breezy as possible

It's called a "spring fling" for a reason. This doesn't necessarily mean you should only be looking for a no strings attached/FWB situation – though if that's what you're feeling right now, go for it. It just means you should try entering any new dating situation with as little pressure or expectation as possible. Don't worry too much about “where things are going” or what it may look like to others. As Kate Mansfield said of the 2023 dating trend 'Anecdating,' “By going into a date with an open mind, you’ll feel more relaxed and be able to better enjoy the moment, rather than get caught up in any expectations.” By allowing things to develop naturally, you'll find out soon enough if it's just a spring fling – a pretty dreamy thing in its own right – or something a little more serious.

6. Switch things up a bit

Spring is the season of renewal and rejuvenation, so it's a perfect time to refine your approach to dating. This could mean something as simple as expanding your search radius by a few miles, or it could mean doing something more drastic, like contemplating a long-distance relationship. Last April I received a message from someone asking if I was open to the idea of joining a throuple. In all honesty, I really wasn't, but I couldn't fault this person for throwing caution to the wind and really going there in his opening message. If you've been wanting to make a bold move for a while, spring is the time to try it.