Dating 101 tips

Online Dating 101: Guided Communication

Step 3: Guided Communication

Guided Communication is the process of getting to know your eHarmony matches better. From reading and assessing a match’s profile to sending and answering the questions that are important to you, each step along the way in the Guided Communication process is designed to help you evaluate whether you would like to continue getting to know your match in a safe and anonymous environment.

Here are the four steps that have proven to be helpful and effective in helping our members find the best person for them from among the group of already deeply compatible people they are matched with:

Step 1: Read Your Match’s "About Me" Information

When you first receive a match from eHarmony, the first step is to assess whether you have any interest in finding out more about your match by reading through their "About Me" page. Consider each match seriously—we all know the Internet is all about skimming through pages quickly, but when it comes to finding someone truly great to spend your time with, it’s important to give each person the careful consideration that you hope your matches will bring to you. Each one of your matches has been selected for you for many reasons—29, in fact (see 29 Dimensions of Compatibility )—so each match is already a deeply compatible combination.

There may be a few bits of information that you like about a match’s About Me& profile and lots that you’re not sure about, and that’s okay. No matter how expressive a person might be, it’s impossible to know everything about someone from their profile. And sometimes really great people have a more challenging time describing who they are. And over time, perhaps some of your match profiles begin to look the same, which is simply not the case—each person is special and unique; the only thing they share in common is their compatibility with you! For all of these reasons, the next step of Guided Communication, Sending 1st Questions, is important.

Feeling a little apprehensive about initiating communication?

Get Dr. Warren’s advice on Who Makes the First Move .

Step 2: Send 1st Questions

Sending a round of five easy-to-answer, but informative questions to ask your match is a great way to get to know your matches. Select the questions whose answers might give you insight on what your match thinks or how they would act in a certain situation to help you better gauge how this match might interact with you. Once your match replies to you, you will see their answers and will then be able to answer five questions that they have selected for you to help them get a better sense of who you are.

Need help choosing your Top 10?

Step 3: Exchange 10 "Must Haves" and 10 "Can’t Stands"

The next step of Guided Communication is sending your list of "Can’t Stands" and "Must Haves" and reading your match’s. Simply put, Must Haves and Can’t Stands are your deal makers and breakers in a relationship. There are many to choose from; select those that particularly resonate with you. You can always modify any of your selections at any time by visiting your About Me tab once logged in.

Must Haves are qualities in a mate that you absolutely must have in a relationship with someone to be happy. Here are some examples:

Chemistry —I must feel deeply in love and attracted to my partner.

Communicator —I must have someone who is good at talking and listening.

Wit —I must have someone who is sharp and will keep me on my toes.

Can’t Stands are qualities in a mate that drive you absolutely nuts—in a bad way. For example,

Rude —I can’t stand someone who is belittling or hateful to people.

Grudges —I can’t stand someone who has a chip on their shoulder.

Materialistic —I can’t stand someone who sees material items as a measure of success.

Step 4: Send 2nd Questions

The final step of eHarmony’s anonymous, Guided Communication is the exchange of three open-ended questions that allow for more thorough, detailed answers that reveal your and your matches inner thoughts, feelings and values. You can create your own questions or you can select from a list of great insight-provoking questions that we provide—it’s all up to you.

How long does it take, on average, for matches to respond while in Open Communication?

Open Communication

Once you’ve made it through Step 4 of the Guided Communications process, you’re now in what’s known as "Open Communication," a safe, easy and anonymous way to continue communicating with your matches. Sending messages in Open Communication helps you to decide whether you want to keep pursuing the relationship. If so, Open Communication will prepare you for that important first phone call with your match and/or your first date with them.

Be sure to take note of Dr. Warren’s special message as you begin Open Communication with any of your matches. And if you’d like to read it again, no problem—it’s always available to read once you’ve reached Open Communication by clicking its link on the left navigation bar in the area that shows your communication history with that particular match. In Dr. Warren’s message, you’ll get important safety tips and advice on how to best proceed.

What if I don’t want to go through all of the Guided Communication steps?

A small percentage of our members prefer to skip through the Guided Communication steps directly into Open Communication with a match. Should you wish to, you can request "FastTrack" communication with any match instead of sending a first set of questions.

By clicking on the FastTrack button your match will receive an offer to meet you in Open Communication. This offer and your first Open message are sent immediately. If the match accepts, you are on your way. If your match prefers to stay with the paced, guided communication, you will receive a reply letting you know and you can continue with the guided process.

Remember, though, that not every match will be as eager as you are, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t interested or wouldn’t be great to get to know and meet in person. People communicate along the timeline that they feel most comfortable with, and many people appreciate having taken the time to explore their matches more thoroughly. There can be a certain comfort in that. But who knows, if you want to FastTrack and your match responds favorably, great! But if not, don’t close your match out immediately on the basis of this decision alone. Get to know them. That’s what the Guided Communications process is for.

Welkom

Op deze site vindt u 101 tips die te maken hebben met allerlei onderwerpen.

Zelf doen

Het leuke ervan is dat u zelf categorieлn en tips kunt toevoegen. Heeft u een tip voor anderen, aarzel dan niet en vul hem even in. Velen zullen u er dankbaar voor zijn.

Voor meer info kijk even bij uitleg.

Zoals u kunt zien aan de linkerkant zijn er al vele categorieen waarin de tips zijn ondergebracht. Maar er kunnen er nog meer bij. Dus hebt u een tip die totaal niet in een bestaande categorie valt maakt dan gewoon een nieuwe categorie aan.

Willekeurige tips

Hieronder vindt u al 10 willekeurig gekozen tips uit alle bestaande tips van deze website:

Spelen

Ga lekker spelen met de kleine en dan bedoel ik niet tikkertje of zoiets maar met zijn/haar knuffels of zijn/haar speelgoed! Doe dan bijvoorbeeld dat zijn/haar lievelingsknuffel leeft of zoiets!

Ingezonden door: marieke - Punten: 6.44

Deze tip komt uit de categorie: Baby's

Wildplassen van uw kat_1

Plast uw kat op een ongewenste plaats? Leg op die plek een ruime hoeveelheid aluminiumfolie en uw kat zal daar niet meer plassen.

Ingezonden door: Suzanne - Punten: 6.13

Deze tip komt uit de categorie: Huisdieren

Tuinhaarden

Gezillig in de tuin zitten in het voorjaar en najaar is 's avonds niet altijd even lekker. Maar als je een open haard, ofwel tuinhaard, hebt dan kun je wel lekker lang gezellig buiten zitten. In de tuinhaardenwinkel heb ik al een leuke gevonden!

Website - Ingezonden door: Carolien - Punten: 6.03

Deze tip komt uit de categorie: Tuin

Soorten van lastminute vakanties

Deze website blinkt uit in eenvoud en geeft een overzicht van alle soorten lastminute reizen zoals: lastminute bungalowpark, singlereizen, jongerenreizen, treinreizen, wandelvakantie, fietsvakantie, zonvakantie, wintersport, stedentrips, autovakantie etc. Kortom: deze website is zeker een bezoekje waard!

Deze tip komt uit de categorie: Vakantie

Cadeau - Pluimen

Met de Pluim geef je iemand precies die belevenis cadeau die hij/zij altijd al heeft willen krijgen. De ontvanger kiest zelf uit een ruim assortiment belevenissen, bijvoorbeeld een verwendagje sauna, een workshop verfgooien of een spannend boek voor op de bank.

Website - Ingezonden door: Lisa Jongejans - Punten: 5.91

Deze tip komt uit de categorie: Dagje uit

Opvoeden hond

Door een duidelijke leider te zijn in huis kunt u veel makkelijker uw hond opvoeden. Straf niet met uw handen door te tikken of slaan, uw handen heeft u ook nodig om hem of haar te aaien en dan zal de hond uw hand als straf zien ook als u het lief bedoeld. Denk als een hond bij een afstraffing, dus niet hard schreeuwen maar bijvoorbeeld bij het nekvel pakken net als de moederhond een nekbeet ter correctie zou geven.

Ingezonden door: Hiddo - Punten: 6.21

Deze tip komt uit de categorie: Honden

Site

Een leuke site voor meiden tussen de 12 en 17 jaar is huis van belle. Ze hebben leuke diy, en levenslesjes enzo.

Website - Ingezonden door: Andrea - Punten: 6.41

Deze tip komt uit de categorie: Meiden

Een opgeruimde reistas

Als je met een weekendtas reist, en je hebt iets nodig onderuit je tas, ligt alles overhoop. Mijn tip: Pak je spulletjes in z. g. wasnetjes. Dus ondergoed in 't ene netje, t-shits in een ander, schoenen in weer een ander. Als je nu iets nodig hebt, blijven de spulletjes per soort bij elkaar. De netjes wegen niets, dus ook handig bij backpacken.

Ingezonden door: Ina - Punten: 6.06

Deze tip komt uit de categorie: Vakantie

Gezelligheid

Je kunt een hoop ruzie tussen broers en zussen voorkomen: Geef ieder 1 of 2 "vaste" dagen. Op die speciale dag mogen ze b. v. naast papa zitten, welke plek in de auto, welke dvd, of om welke andere dingen ruzie ontstaat. Ook dan vaste taken, als tafel afruimen.

Ingezonden door: Rita - Punten: 6.09

Deze tip komt uit de categorie: Kinderen

Thema boerderij/holland/lente

Als je met de kinderen werkt aan de bovengenoemde thema's kun je leuke uitstapjes maken naar een (kinder)boerderij, Molen, de polder, bloembollenvelden etc. Ook een leuk idee is om de lokale (middelbare) agrarische school te vragen om langs te komen. Hier hebben ze soms kleine kassen of dieren in een stal. Hier leren de middelbare scholieren het agrarische vak. Leuk om met basisschoolkinderen te kijken. Gewoon even bellen, vaak is de school wel enthousiast en vinden ze het leuk om de jonge kinderen iets te leren.

Ingezonden door: Simone - Punten: 6.06

Deze tip komt uit de categorie: Onderwijs

Dating 101: 4 Steps to Safely Getting Close

Love at first sight (or inbox message) does exist once in a while. Hollywood has built an entire industry on the line “You had me at hello.” That being said, creating real closeness with someone usually takes time. Initial attraction draws people together but it can’t replace experience or make you close without putting in time and work. Instimacy (instant intimacy) can be energizing, exciting, and fun but how can you be sure your fledgling relationship won’t crash and burn? Here are four ways you can feel the magic of something new while keeping your feet firmly planted on the ground.

1. Actions Speak Louder Than Words

101 Family Picture Tips & Ideas

by Becca

It happens about this time every year. The anxiety. The stress. The dread. Yep – it’s time for Fall family pictures. The pressure’s on for every woman to wrangle the kids and hubby together into trendy, coordinating (but not too matchy) outfits – in an attempt to capture (ever elusive) natural smiles for a “picture perfect” holiday card. What’s a girl to do?

Well, never you fear – the Divas are here! And you are gonna LOVE us after this post! Just go ahead and pin it right now - trust me on this.

We’ve racked our brains and searched all over Pinterest and Blog Land, and gathered over one hundred of the best tips and ideas for this year’s family photos. Yep, just for you, we’ve compiled…

“The Ultimate Family Picture Planning Guide”

From choosing your photographer, location, props, poses, and clothes… all the way to tips for looking good in front of the camera and getting your kids (and husband) to cooperate – we’ve got you covered!

And if that isn’t enough, to keep you super organized and ahead of the game, we’ve even hooked you up with a…

So say goodbye to all that stress. This year’s pictures are gonna be a breeze. We’ve done most of the work for you. Just sit back, relax, and prepare for some serious photo inspiration…

The Photographer

Consider these tips when choosing and working with a photographer for your family photos…

1. Ask for recommendations!

2. Look at their portfolio/ website. Usually, what you see is what you get.

3. Check their work to see if they are used to working with kids, a large group, etc.

4. You don’t have to pick the most expensive photographer in town, but remember that this is an investment of your memories. And I’ve never heard anyone say, “I wish I would have spent the least amount of money possible on our photos.”

5. Schedule in advance! Talented photographers usually fill up fast in the Fall. And you may have to reschedule if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

6. Know what you want and communicate it to your photographer ahead of time. A discussion about the style, location, props, and poses you’re planning on can work wonders to get you on the same page.

7. Rely on your photographer for suggestions, and value their opinion. While you don’t want to be completely at their mercy - they are, after all, the professional.

The Location

You’re not restricted to a portrait studio these days! Outdoor photography offers natural lighting for beautiful pictures and endless options. Check out these tips to narrow them down…

8. Drive around and pay attention to different areas near you that would make beautiful and creative backgrounds.

9. Pick a location that matches your family’s personality. You’ll want these pictures to reflect this time in your lives. So while railroad tracks can look cool, Blissfully Domestic recommends that you ask yourself, “Would our family really spend time here?”

10. Before getting too attached to a location, run it by your photographer. They should know if there are any issues with your choice (such as a required permit or difficult lighting) or if there are better choices available.

11. Browse family pictures online for location inspiration. (Our “Family Picture Ideas” Pinterest Board is full of ideas!)

Here are some of our favorite locations…

The difference between a good picture and a great picture is in the details. So don’t forget to add in some fun props for that little something extra…

12. Sarah Wert of Modern Kids Photography suggests including items from the natural environment in family photos. “Keeping the props as minimal and realistic as possible helps keep the focus on the connection between the family.” So try a bouquet of wild flowers or a picnic blanket.

13. Incorporate items that have meaning to your family to really personalize the picture. Photographer Wendy Laurel recommends using props to highlight your family’s hobbies. So if you love biking together - why not throw in a bike or two?

14. Props such as a couch, chairs, stools, or a ladder can help add different posing options to the same location.

15. Bringing along your child’s favorite toy or blanket will not only capture the special memory in the photograph, but will also help keep your child happy and cooperative.

16. Props such as chalkboards, signs, wooden letters, or scrabble tiles can help you spell out and convey a specific message.

17. Choose props that will help your family interact for natural, candid photos. So bring along a book to read to the baby, a game to lay out and play with the kids, or a picnic to enjoy together.

18. When choosing props, consider the color of your clothing and location background as well. You may want to choose neutral props that will go with anything, or props with a pop of color for added interest.

Here are some of our favorite props…

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