Dating Mistake #1: Settling for less will not make you happy

Realizing that perfection is difficult to find does not mean that you should settle for second best. When all you friend are married and you're left at home with a tub of ice-cream for company on a Friday night, a date, any date, might seem like an attractive option. But being by yourself isn't so bad and it's certainly better than being locked in an unfulfilling relationship for the sake of being in a relationship. Join a sporting club or take up knitting, but don't fill your hours with someone who doesn't care for you, treats you badly or who bores you.

Dating Mistake #2: Being someone you're not

He's tall, dark and handsome and you're mad for him. He's also really into rock climbing and insists you go with him when, really, you'd rather sit on the couch and watch Sex in the City repeats. Pretending to be interested in something your partner loves, or worse still, saying that you believe in something that you do not might make things run smoothly in the short term, but is a recipe for long-term disaster. You will feel dissatisfied if you are not true to yourself, and so will your partner. When the differences between you and your partner are extreme, it can lead to arguments.

Dating Mistake #3: Commitment phobia

The dreaded question, "So are we a couple?" can strike fear into any man's heart, especially if you have only been dating for a little while. In the early stages of a relationship, there may be no need to define yourselves as a couple. Perhaps talk about whether you would still like to see other people and certainly, if you are sleeping together, talk about "exclusivity". But give you man some time. It's not that he's unwilling to settle down with you and give up some of his freedom, it's just that he's got to realize that he wants to do this. If you lead him by the hand into commitment, rather than drag him kicking and screaming, the end result will be much more agreeable for everyone.