Talking on the phone while dating

We get it — if you learned the ins-and-outs of dating decades ago, before you got married, getting back into the swing of modern swiping and digital connections presents a steep learning curve. But if your post-divorce goals include meeting a partner to share your life with — a relationship that goes the distance, investing in the new rules of dating should be your next priority. One key area where most men fail to hit the mark is with the phone. While previous generations might have looked forward to and, ahem, waited for a nightly dial to catch up or have meaningful conversations, texting via blue one-liners and many clever emojis is quickly becoming the new normal. Not sure how to exercise your thumbs in an effective way? Here, relationship experts and therapists give their candid advice on the new golden rules for making phone calls.

When you first start seeing someone, it's all butterflies and rainbows. You're stalking each other's Instagrams, can't help but bring up their name in casual conversation, and texting non-stop. But when texting gets annoying and you just want to hear their voice, you might wonder if giving them an actual phone call is "too much. It's confusing, but after asking an expert to weigh in on the matter, that nervous feeling you get before hitting "Call" makes a lot more sense. For some, talking on the phone is a hassle, so they would rather text.

We live in a world where communication is becoming progressively more convenient… while at the same time, progressively more impersonal. This, however, is dating. This is dating. This is keeping interactions moving forward with energy and emotion.

You like him, and you think he likes you. But, you get tongue-tied and nervous on the phone. Don't let your conversation grow cold by not having topics to discuss. Having a list of things to talk about on the phone can make sure you aren't witness to that awkward silence and weird nervousness.