Best Dating Apps for Relationships

Coffee Meets Bagel
Match
The League
Bumble
Elite Singles
OkCupid 
Once . 

Dating apps were created to make finding your next relationship easier. With so many different platforms to choose from (and plenty of members signed on for a good time, not a long time), trying to find a match who's here for the right reasons can feel kind of impossible. If you're starting to get burned out from your online search for "the one," it might be time to reevaluate your strategy — and the apps that you're using — in order to find her. If this sounds a lot like your current online dating life, it's time to rethink the process and platforms you've become accustomed to, and try using something new.

We asked a few dating experts for their best tips and advice on which dating apps will help you find a match who's also looking for commitment. Here are some recommendations for the best apps to use if you're ready to settle down, along with a few smart strategies that will help you find her in no time.

How to Use Dating Apps to Find Your Next Relationship

If you're struggling to find what you want on a dating app (read: someone who's interested in finding a serious relationship), one challenge you may be up against is that you're not sure what your matches are looking for. Elena Murzello, author of "The Love List: A Guide to Getting What You Want," says to take a cue from this, and make your own intentions clear on your profile. "Saying, 'I'm interested in marriage and settling down immediately' comes across too strong," she says, "but something like, 'I'm looking for a committed relationship' opens up the conversation." When writing your bio, Murzello says to keep it short and sweet, and include what a potential long term partner would want to know about you. "Complete a solid profile. Having photos that showcase your personality is key: Do they invite others to want to get to know the real you? Keep in mind that no one has time to read a novel, so write succinctly and include your interests!"

RELATED: Best Dating Apps for Hooking Up

As far as determining whether or not your matches are here for the real thing, Murzello says a picture's worth a thousand words. "Look at the photos carefully," she suggests. "Are these all half-naked photos? Maybe the person is looking for a hot hookup. Are they half drunken photos? She's probably partying and not looking for something serious." Low-quality photos or profiles without a bio are also signs that this person isn't putting much effort in, and isn't looking for something serious.

The time of day or night that you're typically chatting with a match can also be a telltale sign of what she's looking for. "Pay attention to when they're making conversation with you," says Lauren Levine, dating expert and co-host of The Margarita Confessionals. "Is it during the workday when they're bored and trying to pass the time? Is it really late at night? This is probably someone who's not looking for a relationship. Also, the conversation should have substance to it. If it's just, 'How was your weekend?' or 'What are you doing today?' for days on end, they're probably not looking to get to know you on a deeper level."

Levine says to also keep this rule of thumb in mind when you're messaging matches. "If they have a real conversation and want to get to know you as well, they're probably interested in something more," she says. "If you're getting one-line responses, they're probably not trying to invest in someone. Also, meet up as soon as you feel comfortable. It's so much easier to understand what someone is like and what they're looking for when you're with them face to face."

The Best Dating Apps for Relationships

Coffee Meets Bagel

The more potential matches you have, the more likely it is that you're going to find the right woman for you, right? According to James Anderson, dating expert at Beyond Ages, this way of thinking can actually end up backfiring when you're in the market for something more serious. "Many dating apps and dating sites are essentially a numbers game," he says. "You look through hundreds of profiles, message dozens of people, and maybe get a few dates. With Coffee Meets Bagel things are very different. You receive a daily match that is properly filtered to be in line with what you are looking for. Since you only get one match a day, each person actually takes the time to review the match instead of making a decision in two seconds based on the photo."

Check out Coffee Meets Bagel

Match.com

 .
You've seen the commercials, you've heard the success stories, and while you've probably toyed with the idea of putting money behind your search for a relationship, you still haven't pulled the trigger. If you haven't recognized the theme here, let us be straightforward with you: The more involved a dating app is, the less likely users will use it for low-commitment casual encounters. There are plenty of functionalities you get with Match that make the process more straightforward, from algorithms that point out similarities when viewing profiles to the ability to upload more than a handful of photos, so that you get a fuller picture of the person you're chatting with.

Check out Match.com

The League

The League operates under a similar limited match system as Coffee Meets Bagel. In fact, you may even have to wait to sign up, whether that's a few days or a few months depending on the user base available where you live. After you jump through those hoops, you're given three matches per day based on the preferences that you outline, which include proximity and age. While getting started on The League can take a while, the app’s acceptance process does ensure that the people using it are taking it seriously. The League will actually kick inactive users off after two weeks, which ensures the people you're matching with are actually using it.

Check out The League

Bumble

Online dating burnout can happen to anyone, but for relationship-focused women who are getting grimy messages sent to their dating app inboxes on the regular, this can end up making them throw the towel in. Bumble combats this by making the app's messaging features ladies' choice. "One of the biggest turn offs from online dating is that women are absolutely bombarded with messages from guys," explains Anderson. "This can turn a lot of eligible women off and lead to some uneven power dynamics with many online sites. With Bumble, once you match with a potential partner the woman must make the first move. This allows for a better experience for women, a high quality of users, and overall a better experience for everyone."

Check out Bumble

Elite Singles

If you're tired of trying to determine your compatibility with potential matches based on a few photos and the three emojis they include in their bio, look no further than Elite Singles. In order to sign up, members need to complete a comprehensive personality test, which is then used to identify matches in your area. After you're signed up, the site sources 7-10 potential matches per day, which eliminates the time suck of swiping back and forth, and makes for a more commitment-oriented user base (because no one in their right mind is going to spend 45 minutes on a questionnaire if they're just trying to get lucky).

Check out Elite Singles

OkCupid

In case you haven't been paying attention to billboard ads, the O.G. dating site OkCupid is having a rebranding moment, positioning themselves as a relationship-focused app. This means chances are high that single women in your area have recently re-downloaded this app in hopes that this isn't some false advertising. Commercials aside, there are features on OkCupid that lend well to finding a match that's looking for the same level of commitment you are. For starters, the platform features a more comprehensive profile, which allows members to fill out their interests, what their typical Friday night looks like and what they're doing with their lives, giving you a more well-rounded idea of who you're chatting with. You can also search using keywords (think "commitment" or "looking for something serious"). Depending on how many questions your match has answered on issues that are typically off the table for first date talk like politics and religion, you're also given a percentage of compatibility to see what your odds are.

Check out OkCupid

Once

Similar to Coffee Meets Bagel (and true to its name), Once gives you one match per day based on your preferences. You also won't come across any blurry, low quality photos on the app, since there's a team that verifies each profile photo uploaded to ensure it's of good quality (which can take up to 24 hours). While not as extensive as some of the other apps on this list, there are a list of questions you'll have to answer in order for the app to start curating potential matches. Your daily match expires within 24 hours, which means users stay engaged in order to make sure they don't miss out.

Check out Once

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Kate says . . .

Every day we wake up and as a mom we are in a battle. A battle to see if stress is going to win, or we will! Some days, it is just one of those days, and before the kids even get out the door I’ve thrown in the towel. (If they could just hang up the towel maybe…) Other days I win, and I’m able to beat the stress away.

As Brad pointed out in his post, “Stress and the Men Who Hate It”, we have a choice in how we handle the stressful situations in our lives. We can take the stress and demands of the day and let them effect everything else in our lives and marriage or we can fight back. The truth is, we have the CHOICE!!

I am guilty of making the wrong choice at times where stress is concerned. Sometimes I just want to give into the frustration and anger. But then I look at my hubby and my kids and I see what that does to them. Nothing good, that is for sure! There are other times that I step back from my frustrations and take a minute to pull myself together. I whisper a prayer and push forward in a way that I know will not diminish the value of my hubby or kids. It is those times that I look into my family’s eyes and know that I have chosen well.

Giving into your frustrations.

Giving in your frustrations feels good at times. It feels justified for all that you have had to deal with. In the moment that is, but afterwards, it feels horrible. While we all have moments of needing to “vent” we need to discern where and when that is appropriate. As I know in my own life, indulging in frustrations usually fuels the flame higher. I want to put out the flame of stress before we all get burnt.

Step back, take a breath and whisper a prayer.

Feel stressed? Step back, taking a breath and whisper a prayer. That does not fix all that has gone wrong and it does not make all of the frustration go away. It does however, help me to treat everyone around me with the love and respect I actually feel. It teaches the discipline of not acting in the heat of the moment. In Proverbs 31: 26 the wife of noble character is described as  “When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness”. I would imagine that takes a great deal of prayer and self-discipline to not give into stress and give instructions with kindness. I greatly desire to be that wife of noble character in every way!

Which will you choose wives on your next stressful day or situation?

Will you choose to give in and give in to the frustration or will you choose to step back, take a breath and whisper a prayer.  The choice IS ours.

Kate says . . .

I see it often. I hear comments from wives in their frustration. It is a common theme. Wives expressing that their husband is like having another child. That he adds to their stress in life, sometimes more than actual children.

I have no doubt everyone has encountered this theme in one form or another. While we can often seen themes and patterns in marriage, we need to stop and ask ourselves why those themes happen and what is behind them. Then speak truth and life into the situation.

This theme is most common after a couple has had children. I believe much of it stems from exhaustion, over taxing schedules and perhaps most importantly, lack of connection between husband and wife. The first two contribute to the last and the last breeds frustration. I am sure there are other things that contribute as well, but I believe these are the main contributing factors.

So what can we do, wives? First is recognize it for what it is. A pitfall because of our own “stuff” that we are experiencing. It is human nature, when we are tired and frustrated to look outward for the source of our frustration. Even though it is human nature doesn’t mean we should go with it. The enemy wants to use this very thing to help erode your marriage.

Second, we need to remind ourselves that: my husband is NOT another child and should never be treated as such. He is your husband and that alone is to be respected. Though you may have more on your plate and you don’t have as much time to devote to your husband as you used to, doesn’t mean he is an added stress.

Third, is to figure out how to proceed in your frustration. Looking inward first at why you are frustrated and stressed. Can that be changed by your mindset and things you are or aren’t doing. After doing your own self reflection, you can do an outward check. Is there something your husband could be helping you with. Something more you need from him, physically (helping out around the house or with the kids), emotionally (filling you up with your love language) or spiritually (praying with you and leading you). If there are needs you have, you have to be vulnerable and willing to share them with your husband. As always the way we approach such a conversation will greatly impact the outcome. Share how you are feeling with being stressed and ask kindly for help in the areas you need it.

Why, oh why are we so stubborn when it comes to asking for help? Again, it is easier to place blame outward than to humble ourselves and ask for help. I know for many years in our marriage and especially after kids, I expected Brad to anticipate my needs and to jump up to meet them. While their is a lesson for husbands in there of studying your wife and her needs, asking her regularly how you can help, we as wives have to be willing to be vulnerable and ask!

Our husbands want to be cherished, loved and respected for the men God has created them to be. They are a work in progress, just like us. We need to love them well and equating them to a child is not loving them well. Love your man well!

Wives: Is this something you struggle with as a wife? How have you overcome it? What are other things wives need to know about the subject?

Husbands: Has this been a theme in your marriage? How has it made you feel?

My husband, Keith, received an email from a colleague several years ago containing an article.  He immediately sent it to me and suggested I give it a read because it touched his soul.

From the moment I began reading the words of Australian author and songwriter, Bronnie Ware, I knew I wanted to share them with you.

I reached out to Bronnie with hope in my heart and she graciously agreed to allow me to post this article originally written on her site which was the basis for her best-selling book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departed.

After Bronnie released her book in Germany, it remained on its best sellers list every single week for well over a year.  I’ve not read the book but based on how touched I have been by the article, I imagine the book would do just as much.

Without further ado, the article that widened the smile on Keith and my face and reminded us that one of the best ways to live without regret is to not allow others to overly influence your family’s hopes, dreams or pursuit of happiness and to follow your own personal destiny.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

__________

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

Bronnie Ware is a writer and songwriter from Australia who spent several years caring for dying people in their homes. Her full-length memoir, titled ‘The Top Five Regrets of the Dying – A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing‘, shares even more wisdom from dying people and how Bronnie’s own life was transformed through this learning. It is available worldwide, with translations in 27 languages. www.bronnieware.com

##

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: We’ve already surpassed this number…but let’s just keep going! If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

THE NEW YORK TIMES® BEST-SELLING BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book line none other.  Guaranteed.

The post Top 5 Regrets From the Dying: An Inspirational Article For Us All appeared first on Happy Wives Club.

A male mouse identifies the sex of an unfamiliar mouse because of hard-wired brain physiology, not previous experience, investigators have found.

Ready for the best kind of sex in your relationship? It is essential to know how to make sex last longer to make a couple’s sex life more enjoyable.

If you’re wondering how to make sex last longer, there are a variety of tricks and techniques to achieve longer-lasting sex. It may include things as simple as using the appropriate supplements or something more challenging like introducing a change in lifestyle.

How to make sex last longer – Tips and Tricks that really work

There is no strict definition on how long good sex should last. We only know that super short sex is frustrating while a prolonged sex session can be painful. It stands to reason that sex should last long enough for both partners to have enjoyed the experience.

#1 Get plenty of rest the night before. Sex is a strenuous physical activity. And like all sorts of physical activities, it takes a good night’s rest to function and perform to your full potential. Being well-rested gives you all the energy and stamina to keep the clock ticking longer during lovemaking. [Read: How to take care of yourself and not fall apart]

#2 Make sure you are relaxed and in a good mood before sex. People get less enthusiastic for sexual action if they’re worrying or feeling bothered by something. Negative emotions and stress can decrease libido and performance anxiety during sex.

Meditation, listening to relaxing music, or even just doing an activity that’s personally enjoyable helps put your mental state in equilibrium which contributes to longer lasting sex. [Read: A man’s guide to go from zero to hero and last way longer in bed]

#3 Think of something unsexy during penetration. This is an old and simple trick that allows you to buy some precious minutes during sex. Thinking of anything unsexy during the act lessens your level of arousal delaying you from reaching the point of orgasm quickly. Just don’t overdo it! You might lose your erection if you go too far.

#4 Masturbate prior to sex. Masturbating before sex makes a man last longer in bed. Blowing off a load prior to the act makes a man’s penis less sensitive during the erection following ejaculation. Both partners then build up arousal again with foreplay. You’ll notice a great improvement on penetration time.

#5 Use a thick condom. Some people hate thick condoms due to reduced sensation. But if you’re a guy having trouble with an oversensitive penis during penetration, a thick condom will be your best friend. Thick condoms not only give you more protection, they also allow you to last longer during sex. [Read: The types of condoms and how each of them can improve your sex life]

#6 Use desensitizing cream. Desensitizing cream helps you last longer by numbing the sensitive parts of the penis. This cream contains either novocaine or benzocaine which is a mild topical anasthetic. Desensitizing cream can be purchased as pure cream or infused in other products such as lubricants and condoms.

#7 Try performance-enhancing supplements. There’s a wide variety of performance-enhancing supplements out there with wild claims to their effectiveness. But even if the supposed effects are true or your body is just being tricked by the placebo effect, there is no harm in soliciting the help of performance enhancing supplements to make sex last longer.

Most of these sexual-enhancing products are mostly made up of stimulants that prolong stamina or chemical derivatives that mimic the effects Viagra. [Read: How long should sex really last? The real score]

#8 Avoid drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Alcohol and various drugs have negative effects on a man’s sexual performance. When taken before sex, it can cause erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and decreased libido. Long-term use even have worse effects to a man’s overall performance. You may want to cut down or completely quit from drugs and alcohol in order to last longer in bed. [Read: Alcohol’s effect on sex and your libido]

#9 Quit smoking. Just like drugs and alcohol, smoking decreases the quality of sexual performance of males and females alike. Smoking harms the blood vessels in the penis decreasing the blood flow during erection eventually causing decreased sex time. The longer the time you have spent smoking, the more noticeable the effects on your sexual prowess. Quitting smoking will not only improve your overall health but will also make sex last longer.

#10 Focus on longer foreplay. If you’re wondering how to make sex last longer, just start by focusing on foreplay. Longer foreplay prevents overstimulation of your most sensitive parts. It gets you more focused on your partner instead of reaching orgasm.

It is also undeniable that women prefer longer foreplay than penetration. Even if you don’t make it past the two-minute mark after parking your submarine in the pen, the night will still be satisfying for both. [Read: 20 easy moves to last way longer in bed effortlessly]

#11 Take breaks in between during penetration. Taking breaks especially if you’re nearing climax will help stifle the arousal for more action later on. Use your break to do more foreplay, catch a breather, or to tease your partner so that they’ll be more excited for the big finale moments later.

#12 Edging. Edging is a technique where a man ceases penetrative action moments before orgasm. His arousal reverts back to its pre-climax stage, giving him more time for penetration. If you are capable of doing this multiple times during sex, you’ll extend the action for a longer period of time. Additionally, edging makes the final release more pleasurable and explosive than usual. [Read: How to use edging to make orgasming even better]

#13 Use the “squeeze” technique. The squeeze technique calls for the man or his partner to grip and gently squeeze the base of the penis when a man feels that he’s nearing the point of orgasm. This dampens the sensation in the penis, delaying orgasm, and reverts the man back to sexual plateau giving way for more penetrative action.

#14 Adopt a comfortable sex position. Sometimes both partners tire easily because of a difficult sex position. To reduce this fatigue, switch to a more relaxed sex position that won’t make sex feel like a workout.

Positions such as the spoon, the cross, and the sitting positions are known for being comfortable and lessening the physical strain when using other difficult sex positions. [Read: How to make spoon sex hotter than any other position]

#15 The blue pill. When all else fails, your local pharmacy provides the wonder drug to make you last longer in bed. Though it comes with a price and requires a physician’s prescription before use, Viagra is tested and proven to keep men going up to porn star levels.

[Read: The natural aphrodisiacs sitting in your kitchen you need to try]

Sex that lasts long enough for both partners to enjoy the pleasure is the best sex. Learn how to make sex last longer with these easy steps, and satisfy each other effortlessly.

The post How to Make Sex Last Longer: 15 Technical Hacks to Push Your Limits is the original content of LovePanky – Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.

People are more prejudiced against women leaders than the statistics might indicate. This could be because participants in surveys investigating attitudes towards men and women in leadership positions may not answer honestly unless they are guaranteed confidentiality of their answers.