Coleen advises a reader who has started dating after coming out of a long relationship, and is unaware how to do it in 2026. Has she scared him off by coming across as too keen?09:33, 16 Jul 2026Dear Coleen,I’ve met a lovely guy and there’s a lot of chemistry between us. We’ve both come out of rubbish long-term relationships fairly recently, so this has been a breath of fresh air. We hung out at the pub recently and had a real laugh, telling stories about our mad exes and it felt like we really bonded. We had a quick kiss afterwards, which felt really lovely.My worry is, I suggested meeting up again this weekend, but he’s working, so I suggested the following weekend or the one after that, but he just said he’d look at dates and get back in touch to arrange something.I’m cringing a bit in case I’ve come across as a bit too keen and scared him off. What’s the best way to play this, as I’m so out of practice when it comes to dating. I’d been with my ex 10 years and we got together when we were only 18. I’m not sure of the “rules” any more.‌I think I just got carried away with this new guy because it’s the first time in years I’ve really connected with someone and enjoyed myself so much.Coleen says,Look, it is weird when you start dating again after being out of the game for a long time, but try not to overthink everything. He might just be busy.My advice would be: don’t keep pushing it and let him check his diary for dates. If he had a good time, too, and wants to see you again, he’ll find a space in his schedule and get in touch. Let him make the next move.It’s possible he’s not ready to commit to anything serious so soon after his last relationship ended, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep it light, have fun and see where it leads, without putting pressure on each other.‌Once you’ve had a few dates and know each other a bit better, then you can talk about what you’re looking for in a relationship to see if your hopes and dreams for the future align.Also, remember it takes time to heal when an important relationship comes to an end and it can be good to be single for a while to get to know yourself again and work out what you want. That’s what I did after my second divorce, and when I did start dating again I felt stronger and more confident because I knew I was OK on my own.The point is, if it’s meant to be with this guy, there’s no rush. Sit back, enjoy his company and don’t put so much pressure on yourself.‌Coleen’s words of wisdomIf you have a goal in mind or want to make a fresh start, focus on the next six to 12 months, not forever. Small daily actions are more effective than a big idea with no proper planning or structure.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌