Offline dating: Even in our digitally obsessed world, it’s still possible to make genuine connections in person

Matters of the heart are never easy, and that includes dating in Boston. You might have managed to steer clear of ubiquitous dating apps because you prefer to meet other singles in real life, but your options likely feel sparse, especially if you’re a heterosexual woman.

According to U.S. Census data, there are more women than men living in Boston, with women making up 52.10 percent of the population. In addition, unmarried women outnumber unmarried men in the city by a ratio of 100:93.

On the other hand, no matter the sexual preference, most single women face the challenge of finding time as a high-achieving professional in a city crawling with other equally as busy singles. Plus, who even dares to step out of their house in the wintertime after work when the sun sets at 4 pm? And the city’s high-living costs, including expensive cocktails and often outlandish restaurant checks, can be a deterrent for some.

But there is still hope. We’ve rounded up six ways—besides surfing dating apps and hanging out in bars—to meet other Boston singles the old-fashioned way. Prepare to get your mingle on.

Group Fitness

Between work, family, and personal life, your schedule may be fully booked and your weekly workouts are not something you are willing to give up to make time for meeting new people. Hello, sanity. Consider killing two birds with one stone by exercising in a group setting.

Instead of your usual solo workout, the options for group fitness in Boston are endless, whether your exercise routine includes yoga, HIIT, or cycling. The ClassPass app instantly connects you with dozens of fitness classes and the Meetup platform offers hundreds of local choices, from running groups to pickup soccer games.

Dancing lessons count as exercise, too, and provide the perfect romantic opportunity to pair up with a partner in doing the fox-trot or salsa. Dancing is the language of love, after all, and nothing else quite gets you out of your comfort zone. It does take two to tango…

Alumni Associations

Whether you attended college in Boston or not, universities from all over the country have alumni associations in various cities to bring classmates far and wide together again (or to stalk you for donations). Reconnect with your alma mater and you might find yourself at an alumni event reigniting an old flame or finally gathering up the courage to talk to an unrequited love.

Adult Education Classes

If you’re nostalgic for the high school crushes of yore—albeit without the awkward haircuts and sweaty palms—adult education classes provide the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill in a social setting. Places like the Boston Center for Adult Education offer enriching classes in language, cooking, mixology, computer software, and the arts. General Assembly has lessons in coding, ImprovBoston trains men and women in the art of comedic performance, and Broadway Bicycle School encourages trainees to get their hands dirty over bike repair 101. You could be riding tandem in no time…. Seriously, though, you never know who you might meet in your journey through self-improvement.

Professional Networking

There is no shortage of working professionals in Boston, whether they are more recent graduates or have been managing their own companies for over 20 years. Although networking events shouldn’t be used for the sole purpose of scoping out singles and propositioning them after exchanging business cards, it is a way to meet and connect with other like-minded individuals. One-off networking events can be found on Eventbrite by industry or interest. Specific organizations such as the Boston Gay Professionals Meetup Group or the National Association of Asian American Professionals regularly host events found on Meetup.

Volunteering

Giving back to your community might be something you want to make a priority in your life. And it’s possible to meet others who feel the same way. There are a number of well-established charity and volunteer organizations in the Boston area that you can’t go wrong lending your time to, or a quick search on VolunteerMatch can connect you to local groups of men and women who get together for a common cause.

Matchmaking

Matchmaking, which entails hiring an expert to connect clients with people who have similar backgrounds, interests, and lifestyles, is a direct and efficient way for elite singles to date. Just be prepared to shell out for the service.

Jill Vandor, a matchmaker for LunchDates, tells Exhale that most of her clients are high-level executives aged 30 and older who “don’t want to leave dating up to chance or have time to scroll through apps.” Vandor says her matchmaking clients “want to actually meet people without the usual back-and-forth and potential ghosting with online dating.”

With clients from all over Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, Vandor says LunchDates does all the work, including scheduling the meetup.

So, what are you waiting for? Put yourself out there with these activities that are worth your while, whether or not you leave with a number.