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Dating can be a real nightmare sometimes. In some ways, it’s easier than ever because there are loads of dating sites and apps that you can use to meet people. But that does also mean that you have to sift through a lot more people before finding somebody that you really like. That means even getting to the first date stage can be a big task. But that’s only the beginning and it’s about to get a lot harder.
First dates are so hard because you’ve got to manage your nerves and you’ve only got a short amount of time to get to know the person before deciding whether you want to see them again. If you don’t give the right impression or you let your nerves get the better of you, they might not get to see the real you and most of the time, you don’t get a second chance if things go badly. If you’ve got a first date soon and you want to make sure that it goes perfectly, here are some great tips.
Arrange It Quickly
When you meet somebody and swap details to arrange a first date, you should try to arrange the date as quickly as possible. Don’t worry about playing any games and not trying to seem too eager, because you might miss your chance. People are constantly using dating apps and meeting new people all of the time so if you wait a few weeks before you contact them, they might just meet somebody new and forget all about you. Just get in touch with them and organize something if you like them, they’ll be happy that you’re excited to see them again and you can get to your date quicker. There’s no telling whether you’ll get on or not and you don’t want to waste more time than you need to if you don’t.
Pick The Perfect Location
The place that you decide to have the date says a lot about you so if you’re choosing, you need to pick the perfect location. There’s no simple way to decide and it depends on the person, but it needs to be somewhere that you can talk and get to know each other. Places like the cinema or a loud club aren’t ideal because you won’t be able to have a proper conversation. Restaurants are a common choice but they’re not always the best. They can be a little formal for a first date and you both want to be relaxed. There is also the issue of who pays if you go to a restaurant and that can be a bit awkward for people that don’t really know each other. There isn’t really any way that you can duck out early if you don’t get on either, so you’re in for some long awkward silence if the date doesn’t go well.
The best way to choose a good place for a date is to think about shared interests. If you’ve been talking for a while and you’ve got things in common, you should base your date around that. For example, if you both like the same band and they’re playing a show somewhere, why not go to that? It’s also important that you don’t choose something too expensive because, even if you can afford it, they might not be able to and that’s going to put them in an uncomfortable situation.
Be Safe
Even if you’ve been chatting with somebody online or you’ve met them a few times before, you don’t really know them properly. 99 percent of the time, everything will be absolutely fine but it’s important that you make sure that you’re safe on your date. It’s always a good idea to meet somewhere public the first time you meet them and always tell a friend where you’re going and what time you plan to end the date. If you end up staying with that person for a bit longer than you thought you would, just send a message to your friend so they know that everything is ok.
Bring A Gift
Bringing a small gift to give your date is a nice way to show that you’ve made the effort. You could look for a same day flower delivery company and get a nice bunch to take along with you, everybody likes flowers. You could also think about some of their interests and hobbies and get a gift that relates to those. However, it’s important that you don’t spend too much money on the gift. If you turn up with a very expensive gift, they may think that you’re coming on too strong and it will also put a lot of pressure on them, especially if they don’t think that there’s a good connection between you.
Dress Appropriately
Dressing appropriately for a date isn’t about wearing the clothes that you think you should wear, it’s about what feels comfortable and represents you as a person. If you don’t normally wear high heels and loads of makeup, don’t do that just because you think that’s what you should do on a date. The person that you’re meeting wants to get to know the real you, so you should wear what you normally wear. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an effort to look nice, but wear something that reflects your normal style, it’s the best way to show your personality through your clothes.
Be Yourself
This is the most important thing to remember. Obviously, you want to make a good impression but you shouldn’t try to change your personality to impress them. Even if they think that you’re great, it’s not the real you and you’re wasting your time. Just be yourself, if it’s not meant to be then it’s not meant to be.
If you follow these basic tips, you don’t need to be nervous about your first date because it’ll go brilliantly.
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