For most women looking for Mr Right, age is on their mind. Whether it’s wanting to achieve a life goal before their serious relationship, wanting to meet ‘the one’ by a certain age, or simply the sound of a ticking biological clock, women are typically more conscious of their age than men.

For many women though, age becomes a point of conjecture. A signal to move fast and stress more about the limited availability of men as the years tick over. The further ahead they imagine themselves single, the more doom-and-gloom seems to appear on the horizon.

But, have you stopped to consider the advantages age might bring to your dating?

There is a range of benefits to dating when you’re older that you may not have considered. Often, age gives you the edge in dating over some of your younger counterparts. So here are 9 reasons to stress less and wear your age with pride.

Men Are More Mature

Had trouble with a guy, who just wants to play the field? More set on getting the pats on the back from his mates for hooking up than he is achieving a meaningful relationship with a great woman? These are common complaints I hear from women in their 20’s, tired of dealing with younger, immature guys. Fortunately, these traits in men diminish as they get older. Men mature later than women, and the ego boost they get from dating becomes less meaningful as the years go on, replaced by the importance of forming real connections with people.

You’ve Had Time To Build Your Life

Dating in your 40’s, or 50’s or 60’s means you have more years behind you. The good news- that also means you’ve had time to set up your life. You’re on your own path. Emotionally, financial, and spiritually, you’re independent and self-sufficient. You’re unlikely to make the common and unattractive mistakes younger women make, relying on a man for security in these areas.

You’re A Better Communication And Problem Solver

Whether through friends, previous relationships, or work, when you’re older, you’ll have had your share of problems crop up throughout your life that you’ll have had to deal with.  In tackling these problems, you’ll have practised communicating with the other party, empathy, compromise, and above all – communication, the core skill of any successful relationship. With a better all-round range of life skills, you have a much better chance of building a happy, successful relationship than when you were younger.

You’re More Secure

Many young women have spent little time single, and therefore, have not had the chance to get to know themselves on their own two feet. If they have, then they won’t have had the great learning experiences that come with being in a longer relationship. As a woman with more years behind you, you’ll have had a share of both and the confidence to know who you are and how you handle yourself in each situation.

You’ll enter dating (and subsequent relationships) with a higher level of comfort and security with who you are. This solidarity will not only make you more attractive, but it will mean you won’t be tempted to change for a man, ultimately, resulting in you attracting a more compatible match than your younger self.

You Know What You Want (And What You Don’t) In A Man

Never underestimate the value of experience. Over the years, meeting many men, you’ll learn what to look for. You’ll know what you like, what you don’t, and know the early warning signs of bad male personality traits. If what you want in a guy isn’t forthcoming, you won’t stick around, as a younger woman might. Instead, you’ll move on and keep looking until you find it.

Better Sex

The more comfortable you are with your body and your sexuality – which is exactly what happens with age – the better sex will be. You’ll understand how your body works, what makes it click, and how a lover can best please you. Besides that, your confidence in communicating it to a partner will have grown, too. The older and more mature you are, the more you’ll know what you like and won’t be afraid to ask for it.

There’s More Older Singles Out There Than Ever Before

Finally, I often hear women in the older age group lamenting the reduced number of men available in the 40+ range. Let’s put that myth to bed, once and for all. A recent study by the US Census Bureau indicated 40% of American’s over 45 are single, and over 25% of Match.com’s enormous user base is now aged between 50 and 65.

40% of American’s over 45 are single

Percentage-wise, it’s true; there are slightly less single men when you’re older. However, there are still millions of older singles available, so many that – no matter how hard you try – you could never hope to meet even a fraction of them. Not only that, but when you’re older, a much higher percentage of those singles are going be learned, commitment-minded singles than when you were dating in your 20’s. No matter how hard you play the single life, you’re never going to run out of options. In terms of numbers, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

No Biological Clock

While women in their 20’s and 30’s might suffer the stress of a biological clock, most women over 40, and all women over 50 have no care for it. The boiling pot of dating is beautifully released at an amazing and empowering time in your life, leaving you free to enjoy dating without a care in the world (well… at least one less thing to worry about!)

Time

Perhaps the most beautiful element of dating in your 40’s and above is simply this – you now have time. There is no pressure to make anything happen. Especially if you’re over 50 with your children moved out (or hopefully soon to be!) and your life established both personally and professionally, you’re free to enjoy these prime years with no pressure on the results of dating. Unpredictability is the spice of life, and you’re in the best position you’ll ever be to take full advantage of it and have some fun through dating.

“Unpredictability is the spice of life, and you’re in the best position you’ll ever be to take full advantage of it”

I hope, from reading this, you come to realise that being single in your older years isn’t the doom-and-gloom it’s made out to be – far from it. As long as you go in with a positive attitude and show, physically, you take care of yourself, there’s absolutely no reason an established, confident woman in her 30’s, 40’s, or 50’s can’t and won’t have more success dating than a woman in her 20’s. So get out there, take advantage of the abundant opportunities that come with age, and use what you thought was a hindrance as one of your greatest assets in finding love.