Ah, December… the time for lighting the menorah, spinning the dreidel to get that elusive gimel, and, of course, wondering whether you’re going to have a date for New Year’s Eve this year.

People ask me all the time, “Is there a best time of year to do online dating?” In short, the answer is no. I’d first say that the best time for you to start online dating is when you’re emotionally ready for it. Remember, online dating takes a fair amount of work, so make sure you’re ready to tackle this fun, new adventure. You won’t simply be typing a few lines as fast as you can and posting it in your online profile to see who writes to you. Instead, it’s about being creative, proactive, and patient.

Once you’ve crossed that emotional threshold and you’re ready to take the online dating plunge, there is one time of year that it may suit you well to log-on: the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. And if that goes well, ride that wave all the way through Valentine’s Day.

100hookup.com’s Community Manager, Rachel, says the holidays are the perfect time to get online and get excited about meeting someone new. “This is definitely one of our busiest times of the year and that’s simply because the festive fun of the holiday season often reminds singles there is nothing better than being around those we love – that romantic relationships! Plus, we often see a big bump in membership numbers with so many people adding ‘find love’ to their New Year’s resolutions!”

As you probably know, some of the top New Year’s resolutions out there are to work out and find love (in addition to saving money, spending more time with family, volunteering, staying organized, and reading more, to name a few). In order to find love, though, you have to do something about it, and that something, according to the increase in online dating numbers, is to look for love online. And when you do, make sure you’re putting your best foot forward with flattering, accurate pictures, a profile that truly represents you without sounding too generic (“I love to laugh and have fun” will sadly not make the cut), and a positive attitude about what the future might bring.

Maybe this year is the year to find love and maybe it’s not, but for what it’s worth, signing up with a brand-spankin’ new 100hookup profile on December 26^th (or on December 25^th for that matter, over some veggie lo mein and  moo goo gai pan) isn’t a bad idea. At least you know you’ll be in good company.