First Date Tips

Here’s a quick and simple list of first date tips:

First Date Do’s:

Be Yourself - Be on your best behavior, certainly, but don’t be anyone but you. While you don’t want to say you’re single when you’re legally separated, you don’t need to say that you bite your nails when you’re nervous, and you get nervous at the dentist. Leaving that little fear of dentists thing out doesn’t make you a liar. It just makes you someone who is honest but putting her or his best foot forward. Tell a few things about yourself – true things – that show your good, sweet, tender and honest side. Leave your phobias for later.

Listen To Your Date – Don’t hog the conversation! That will make you look rude and self-absorbed. The primary reason you don’t hog the conversation, however, is because this first (and possibly only) date is the first chance to get to know this lovely creature sitting next to you or across the table from you. If you monopolize the conversation what will you have learned? And chances are you’ll ruin any chance of learning more later.

Try to Relax and Enjoy Yourself – Fun should be a first date rule! Forget about finding your life partner, forget about trying to look and act like the great charmer. Just enjoy this time. The worst that could happen is you don’t hit it off and you won’t have lost much except a few hours at most.

First Date Don’ts:

Do Not Pretend to be Someone or Something That You’re Not – This is a big one. Two things happen if you do. First, you are discovered to be a liar, then or later, and you lose the relationship. Second, you aren’t discovered to be a liar and you’re in a relationship where you aren’t allowed to be yourself. Ultimately you will lose this relationship as well. Imagine pretending to be a non-smoker and fighting the urge to puff away on your first date. What if the date goes well? What if you continue the relationship? You’ll be forced to go cold turkey with those nasty cigs or to out yourself and be branded a liar – which may end up losing the relationship anyway.

Don’t Make Snap Judgments About Someone You Meet on a First Date – (Unless they’re so unattractive you feel nauseated or so boorish and crazy that you fear for your life or sanity being near them). Relax, give her or him a few dates to let their guard down and show their true self. If you still don’t see what you want to see after that, then end it and move on.

Don’t Leave Him or Her Hanging, Wondering if She or He Will Ever See You Again at the End of the First Date – Say, “I had a great time. Let’s do this again.” If you don’t want to see him or her, say, “It was a pleasure meeting you. I had a nice time, but I don’t feel that we have the right chemistry/match/connection. I’m sure you’ll find the right one soon enough – good luck on your search.” Make yourself clear. Why waste time?