PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

When you're single, meeting people can be incredibly frustrating. It's just so hard to meet the kind of people that interest you. Going to the bar seems pointless and clichéd. Your friends have already tried to hook you up with all their "you're going to love this guy" or "this girl is totally hot" friends. And speed dating seems like a silly waste of time.

Feel like you've covered all the bases in searching for a relationship? There is one thing that you may be missing out on. Singles activities groups. Though the idea of a group of singles going en masse to dinner or a movie sounds rather cheesy (believe me, I know it makes you think of slick-haired womanizers in polyester suits and desperate, frizzy blondes in low-cut dresses), today's singles groups are actually rather cool…and can be a lot of fun.

Not convinced? Single groups have a bunch of other benefits, too, including:

1. No pressure. When you're on a date or even when you do speed dating, there's that instant pressure of one-on-one conversation. You have to make an impression with this one person, and you have to do it quickly. And even if you don't like the person you're dating, you're stuck with them for awhile. But with singles groups, you only have to talk to the people that interest you. Don't see anybody who's your type? Then just have fun and chat with the rest of the group – there's no pressure to meet somebody.

2. Shared interests. Another great thing about singles groups is that they're often geared towards a particular interest. Singles who love movies. Singles who are into salsa dancing. Singles who watch baseball. You get the idea. Picking a group of people with interests similar to yours really boosts your chances of meeting somebody that's right for you.

3. New contacts. When you've been single for awhile, it begins to feel like you've already done the rounds of all the single people connected to you in anyway. You've been introduced to the son of your Aunt Rita's neighbor. You know your friends' friends. And you spent time with their friends, too. You start to feel like you're meeting the same people over and over again. But with singles groups, you go out of your comfort zone and meet a whole new group of people – most of whom you wouldn't have met otherwise.

4. An easy approach. This one is especially great for men, who are the most called-upon to approach a woman for a date. When you go to singles groups, you know that all of the attendees are single…and looking for a relationship. This makes approaching somebody that you're interested in a little simpler. It also means that you can't lie to yourself that she rejected you because she already had a boyfriend, either, but that's a different story.

5. Make friends. Because singles groups are low-pressure, they're a great way to make friends as well as meet romantic contacts. There are going to be plenty of people there of the same sex who may be looking to ease the pressure of a "singles only" situation by making conversation. You never know who you might meet!