Single at 50? Turn to online dating

It is only natural for you to press the panic button once you hit 50 and find that you are still single, but in reality there is no longer any need to worry.

Many individuals find themselves heading into middle age without a partner – whether they have yet to find the one, have suffered a painful break-up or, worse still, have become a widow or widower while they are still relatively young.

The key is to never lose hope that you will one day meet up with someone who is perfect for you. Of course, there are always like-minded people out there who find themselves in the same situation, so you should never worry that you will spend the rest of your days alone.

One of the key advances that has been made to allow more people of all ages to get together is online dating. Since the explosion of the internet several years ago, online dating websites have shot to prominence and are now used by thousands of people all around the country.

They provide a great way for you to search for the type of person you would like to spend the rest of your life with and, with a bit of luck, find him or her among the many profiles on display. Such a process has the potential to change lives and it is certainly not uncommon for marriages and long-term relationships to begin online.

All of this gives plenty of hope to over-50s that they will not be left on the shelf, as many people of this age and older are increasingly internet-savvy. Simply signing up to a dating site and talking to prospective partners will give you a renewed sense of optimism.

Once you take a shine to someone, you can ask them out on a date and await their response. You only need to strike gold once for your life to have been changed forever, and make online dating the best thing you ever did.