First Date - How To Make a Good First Impression /
First dates can be a nerve racking experience to say the least! Even if you consider yourself to be a confident person in all other situations, the first date can make you a bundle of nerves, and sometimes stuck for anything to say at all. Therefore completely minimising our chances to get a second date or could even put you off dating for a very long time!
The best way to tackle a first date for a greater chance of it going smoothly is to be prepared. You want to make a good first impression with your date so preparation is key for you to make a success of it. Here are a few crucial ‘Do’s’ & ‘Don’ts’ to take on board for your first date:
Don'ts /
The worst way to start your first date is to be late! Whatever you do make sure you get there on time. Leave plenty of time for travel and even get there a bit earlier if possible, there’s nothing worse than meeting up with someone for the first time and having to make excuses of why your were late. This leaves the impression that you may not really care.
Please do not mention your Ex! No one wants to hear about your Ex on the first date. It gives your date the impression that you are still hung up on her/him and could completely put them off you. They may think you come with a lot of baggage. If this is the case, do you think you are ready to start dating again?
Be aware of talking about yourself too much. You don’t want your date to think you are self obsessed. This could be a major turn off for them!
Asking too personal questions is a big No. Most people will not want to answer personal questions and will start to feel uncomfortable with you.
Table manners! Don’t put your date off you by showing disgusting eating habits. Swallow your food before you start to talk. You don’t want to blast your date with food whilst you’re talking.
Do not drench yourself with Fragrance! Everyone likes someone that smells nice but going over board could be a real turn off! You don’t want your date gasping for air whilst sat across a table from you. It could leave a nasty taste in their mouth. Maybe ask a friend to tell you if your fragrance is too over powering before you leave and hopefully they will be honest with you!
Sweet little lies. Don’t tell lies about yourself to impress. If you are hoping to see this person again and again they will find you out and you will look a fool. A lie told on your first date could be the end of a blossoming relationship. Plus if you make out to be someone your not it could all blow up in your face.
It is advisable to not talk about marriage and children. This is getting too serious too fast and you don’t want to give the impression you are desperate to settle down. You could scare them off! This type of conversation should be left till you really know each other.
Know your limits. I’m talking about alcohol. If you are having a drink know how much you can drink before you get drunk. You don’t want to become a gibbering fool or start saying inappropriate things to your date. There’s nothing more unattractive then someone losing control and starting to slur their words. This does not make a good first impression.
Sex on the first date. This is a sure fire way to ruin any chances of a second date!
Be polite. Even if you do not intend to go on a second date thank them for coming and leave it at that. Don’t try and get out of there as soon as possible as you don’t want to hurt their feelings. If you do want to see the person again this is an opportunity to ask them out.
To flirt or not to flirt! If you are truly interested in your date let them know with some subtle flirting, don’t over do it though, you don’t want to scare them off.
So now we all know what not to do on a first date. Here are a few tips on how to make you’re your first date a great success!
Do /
Arrive on time. Being late does not send out a good signal to your date. They may think you aren’t going to turn up so may leave before you get here. If you know you will be late make sure you contact them to let them know as soon as possible but it better be a good excuse! Rubbish excuses for lateness is not acceptable.
Listen to what your date is saying, don’t interrupt and don’t always try to turn the conversation back to yourself! They will think much more of you if you show the ability to listen to them and genuinely seem interested. Asking questions is a good way to show your enthusiasm. And they will really feel like you are listening to them.
Relax! Try to make your date feel comfortable even if you are feeling nervous try not to show it or it could turn the date into a nightmare date with neither of you speaking and not acting like yourselves. Confidence is a very attractive quality.
Prepare. Without making notes try to think of some good questions to ask your date if the conversation goes a bit cold. More than likely your nerves will make you forget but preparation could get you out of some uncomfortable silences and stop you from seeming like a bore.
Be positive! Talk about positive things and don’t drone on about boring subjects or negative things. You don’t want to come across as a pessimist who puts a downer on conversation.
Topics of conversation. Some topics of conversation are not appropriate. For example asking your date how much money they make is not the best question for a first date as it makes you seem like money is all you are interested in. The term ‘Gold digger’ springs to mind.
Be yourself. As before in the ‘Don’ts’ do not lie. Focus on the great things in your life and if you are enthusiastic your date will be too. You do not need to make something up for someone to be interested in you. Plus the person will think less of you when they find out it all was all a lie!
Do something different. Try and think of unusual date venues to take your date on. Instead of just going for a meal you could do something active like Go Karting. Try to find out what your date is interested in prior to the date if possible. You will score brownie points for it!
If you really like your date why not let them know with a little flirting (if you feel confident)! If the date ends up going horribly wrong you can always slip out the bathroom window!
Be Safe! Always tell someone you are going on a date and let them know where you are going especially if you have never met them before.