Are you looking for a new love in the New Year? Then you’re in good company. The 5th of January is known as ‘Dating Sunday’ because it’s historically the busiest day of the year for online connections.

With over 10% more matches and 20% more messages sent on January 5 compared to the rest of the year, the first Sunday of the year proves to be the ultimate kickstart for your 2025 dating life, according to Tinder.

Dating coach Sophie Personne has listed eight dating hacks to make sure the optimistic and amorous make the most of this fertile time.

1 Don’t keep a low profile: I can’t stress how important your profile is. It really gives a feel for the person and whether you should talk to them or not. Don’t be lazy and go for the easy option of giving very little information because you’ll probably waste a lot of your time as a result. And use your gut feeling when choosing your app. Don’t join everything you come across, stick to one minimum and three max.

2 Don’t be afraid to grab attention: Bios often put people off because they feel like hard work – but they don’t have to be. Under no circumstances should you write things like “I’ll fill this up later” or “Back here again because the last one didn’t work out” unless you want to come across as lazy, grumpy and showing a general lack of care. It’s really off-putting, yet so many people do it. Instead - make it funny or intriguing. Ask what your unique quirks are. If you’re clumsy, something like ‘accident waiting to happen’ is unique, will stand out and invite conversation.

3 Don’t write a shopping list: Under no circumstances should you list all the things you want in someone. Stick to you - who you are, what you enjoy and more importantly, what you have to offer – not what you want. Just that alone will make you stand out from everybody else.

4 Don’t limit yourself: Having a long list of requirements, a ‘checklist’, deal-breakers, non-negotiables, etc, is not the way you’re going to meet the right partner. These are not only a turn-off but also a form of self-sabotage. They are often based on your past experiences and can make you overlook someone that would actually be perfect for you. What you want is often very different from what you need.

5 Don’t overthink before going on that first date: The timing of when you meet is crucial - meeting too soon is never a good idea but nor is waiting too long. Women seem to be the worst for waiting for weeks on end before being willing to go on a first date, which may be because it was the advice given around 15 years ago. Don’t do it, all it does is waste everyone’s time and can kill the vibe. There is no timeframe as such but the aim is to gather enough information to know if it’s worth meeting – or not. If it takes you five weeks to decide, don’t bother, it’s not right. If you exchange a lot of messages and get to know lots about each other quickly, meeting after a couple of days is fine. Just don’t meet after a couple of messages unless you’re looking for a hook up.

6 Don’t fall foul of dating fatigue: Dating is a process but it can be an emotional rollercoaster. If you approach dating like a chore and a numbers game, it’ll probably take forever. Be positive and notice if you’re swiping endlessly and mindlessly; your mindset might need to be revisited.

7 Don’t take rejection to heart: Nobody likes rejection but it’s better to find out quickly that someone isn’t interested. It allows you to move on instead of wasting your time. Don’t dwell on it at this early stage and be grateful to know where you stand. Remember the importance of quality over quantity.

8 Don’t be afraid to take it offline: Don’t just focus on the apps - yes, they have their place but there’s a world of opportunities out there, you can meet people in the supermarket, at social events with friends, or out doing a hobby that you enjoy. Talk to people IRL. Anyone. And without an agenda because you just never know. First of all, it’s good for the soul and helps you to practice approaching people, but also because that old man on the train you just spent an hour chatting to and who’s getting off at the same stop as you, may well have a son or daughter picking them up. Remember that serendipity has a weird way of showing up.

Sophie is the author of Your Other Half: The Guide to Better Relationships with Others & Yourself