She is a young, professional, independent woman but Ms Sangeetha Naidu, 28, has not been on any dates in the past six months.

"I tried dating last year but I have since taken a break, mostly out of frustration," says the public relations officer, who likens dating to a tiring job interview.

"After spending eight hours at the office, all I really want to do on most days is to get home as soon as I can to wind down," she adds.

And there are many who share her dating woes.

The recently released Marriage and Parenthood Study 2012 shows that singles are generally too tired or have insufficient time to date or meet new people.

Commissioned by the National Population and Talent Division, it covered 2,120 singles aged 21 to 45 years old.

Having no energy to muster up a smile for a date seems to be a major problem for most. In the survey, 65 per cent of singles said they were exhausted when they came home from work.

Accountant Alexis Cheong, 24, who has been single for the past year, says: "During busy periods, work-life balance is hard. Sometimes I get home at 1am and see my parents for only five minutes a day."

Her friends have also started excluding her from gatherings.

"Some friends have got so used to seeing me working late that they do not ask me out anymore because they assume I will not be free," she says.

Mr Jerald Lim, 38, owner of One Plus One dating agency, has this to say to work- worn individuals: "It's perfectly normal to feel exhausted. Take a good rest with a good night's sleep on Friday night and you will feel fresh for the weekend."

He adds: "Since they can survive work- life, then socialising shouldn't be too difficult right?"

Wrong.

Socialising is a problem in itself as singles say they have no time or opportunities to meet new people.

In the marriage and parenthood study, 42 per cent of the singles said they had insufficient time to date, and half had insufficient time to meet new people.

Mr Pang Tze Yeong, 30, an engineer who has been on only two dates in the last nine months, says: "When I have time, I spend it with family and friends. There are few channels to meet new people."

The same goes for business student Ivan Chiu, 23, who has a packed schedule that revolves around school, friends and career.

Since he entered university more than two years ago, he has not had the time to go on any dates.

He says: "These commitments are more important at this moment. Going on a one-on-one date with someone new will take up more time than going out with a group of five to six friends."

Mr Jackiey Kwek of dating agency CliqueWise says people do not set aside time to go out and meet new friends.

"To many singles, making new friends might not be the most important thing in life," he says.

Instead, they stick to their routines and catch up with old friends, pursuing the same hobbies, or just spend time sleeping, he says.

Ms Violet Lim, 32, owner of dating agency Lunch Actually, agrees that people usually meet through mutual friends.

However, friends do run out of single friends that they can match up.

"Or when friends settle down and start a family, they would be too busy to continue to introduce single friends to each other," she says.

Even for those who are willing to get out of their pyjamas, meeting new people is a challenge, because of social conventions here.

Pilot Junior Peh, 35, who has been single for about a year, feels that it is easier to strike up a conversation with a stranger in countries like Hong Kong and Bali then on home ground.

Mr Peh says: "In Singapore, the other party just gives one to two word answers. People here are on their guard and are not receptive to an unknown person talking to them without an ulterior motive."

PR officer Sangeetha, whose previous relationship lasted for three years but did not work out, says that in Singapore, if you are "a little different" or "more vocal than the average woman", it makes finding a date "that much harder".

Though she is quick to say that she does not blame the lack of quality men in Singapore, she adds: "Maybe I'll have to move to another country where the pool of men might be a better fit."

Then there are those who are biding their time, actively choosing not to date for now and concentrating instead on school work or their career.

Electrical engineering student Zhou Yang, 24, feels that his hectic schedule during the school semester does not allow him to meet people outside his social circles of school and church.

The final-year student has not been dating for the past year and is focusing his time and energy on his studies instead.

He says: "It is a problem of scheduling. But my mum does not pressure me to date. I believe in taking things naturally. When it happens, it happens."

Human relations executive Brenda Law, 25, says her priority now is her career.

Unlike others, she has no problems meeting new people through work, church or clubs such as Toastmasters International. "If I do prioritise dating, I will make the time for it," she says.

Perhaps more will follow in the footsteps of Mr Brian Yeoh, 37, who goes on a date about once a month.

The former finance professional recognises that he has more work-life balance now that he is in the public sector.

He meets new people through friends and initiates one-on-one outings, but adds that he does not do it with the purpose of finding a life partner.

"We take part in a new activity such as rock climbing or cycling, as long as that's the context then there is less pressure.

"It's not much fun if there is all that expectation," he adds.

Banking executive Michelle Lau, 35, is also taking matters into her own hands. She signed up for a dating event last year and met four people there, who have asked her out.

Now that her "career and finances are stable", she can let that take a back seat. "It's time to find a partner," she says.

simlinoi@sph.com.sg

cherylw@sph.com.sg

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