So, you want to find someone. I mean, really find someone. That’s why you are using online dating because you don’t have a lot of time to cruise public people-gathering places and the quality of people you are meeting makes your inner child die a little.

To be honest, though, your time investment is probably going to be equal or more non-online dating things. My girlfriend and I often talk about how dating is exhausting. And it can be! Ideally, it’s fun, not time consuming and frustrating. You need a good screening process and probably a bit of a sense of humor. . .

I figured I would take the opportunity in the post to review the general time you are probably going to invest in finding a quality relationship.

I assume, for each guy you are considering pursuing, you are spending:

• 1-2 dates a week (about 3-4 hours per date). 
• Phone calls (1 a week). 
• Texting/emailing (1-2 hour a week).

That comes to about 5-7 hours week. I think 10 hours per guy, per week is a good investment of time – probably because it includes commuting to and from locations. If you have three guys (as I try to keep in play) you are investing about 15-30 hours a week in dating.

Add that to your 40+ hour work week. Ha! Madness.

It pays to get a bit organized when dating so you can better plan out how to balance your life. After all, you still need to shower, do laundry, feed yourself and keep a clean residence, right? Right. You also don’t want to get so involved in the dating world that you forgot your friends, pets and family - not to mention your own hobbies.

Ideally, and the point of this post, when you start to look at the time you are investing in dating, you will start to make sure you are investing your time wisely. This will prevent you from engaging in random, unfulfilling meetings and also prevent you from letting a real catch go.

Here are some concepts to keep in mind, regardless of your gender, when you are investing your time. Say them aloud:

• A borderline jerk or person who can’t even commit to a date really isn’t worth my time.
• I am too busy to do all the work, as my potential mate, you need to do some of it.
• It’s not enough just to get my attention; you have to keep it, too.
• When you have my attention, you have all my attention. However, you have no right to get upset when I can’t respond to every communication instantly all the time.
• I will never waste your time.
• I understand you are busy and things happen, I will not get mad or offended if you cannot respond to me instantly. I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
• If you don’t have time for me, I will move on without any ill will.
• I am a catch.