The ideal first date is a difficult concept for everyone to design. You’ll feel a range of emotions as you reenter the dating scene. One, you’ll be anxious for the same reasons you’ll be pleased to meet new individuals and encounter diverse personalities.
You’ll be filled with so many inquiries and concerns, such as “What should I wear?” or “What topic should I bring up?” Anybody who has to start over in getting to know someone and putting their best foot forward can become apprehensive at the mere prospect of it.
Having said that, we believe that going on a first date is a fantastic way to meet new people and potentially develop a friendship or something more. Making a little preparation is beneficial practice, therefore there is no harm in doing so!
Here is a quick checklist you may use, along with some advice, to keep you calm and collected during your romantic getaway.
How To Get Ready For A Date
1. Examine the dietary preferences of your companion.
If you’re going out to dinner and you’re choosing the venue, be sure to keep your date’s culinary preferences in mind. Ask your date if there are any foods they won’t consume because of any personal preferences, medical conditions, or religious convictions. Don’t take your date to a steakhouse, for instance, if they are a vegetarian. Similarly, if your date is gluten intolerant, look for wheat-free options on the menu before going to a pizza joint.
2. Select the proper location.
The setting you pick determines how your date will go. Choose a neutral, stress-free location where you can concentrate on getting to know each other and determining how well you connect, unless you already know what activities your date enjoys.
Suggest going to a neighborhood pub or a trendy new coffee shop instead of dinner and a movie. Without feeling obligated to dress up or eat gourmet, the informal setting provides a suitable setting for having stimulating conversations.
3. Check in with your date.
On the day of, give your date a call or text to confirm everything. Make sure you and the other person are in agreement with important facts, such as where and when you will meet.
4. Cleanliness comes first.
The truth about dating is that you are selling yourself; the only way to get someone’s attention is to seem attractive.
If you don’t usually bathe every day, you should always take a bath before going on a date. To impress your date, you should look presentable and tidy. Make sure to thoroughly cleanse your face without causing skin irritation. Additionally, don’t forget to clean, trim, and brush your nails.
Plan to meet later if the date is after work so you’ll have time to go home, take a shower, and get ready. Since first impressions are so crucial, you’ll have time to consider how you want to present yourself.
5. Tidy up your apartment.
This element of getting ready for a date won’t be covered by many people, which makes it even more crucial!
You never know how a date will turn out; you two might find yourselves back at your house. If your home is messy, spend some time to tidy it up if you don’t want your date to think you’re a slob. Give your living room, bedroom, and bathroom particular consideration.
6. Keep your phone charged and close at hand.
While you shouldn’t be playing with your phone while you eat, it’s still a good idea to have it nearby just in case.
- You can use the GPS on your phone to find directions if you get lost going there or coming back home.
- If you or your date is running late or needs to cancel due to an unexpected situation, you may need to communicate through phone.
- You can use your phone to help you identify the ideal location nearby if you want to continue the night and go to a cafe or pub after reaching your intended destination.
7. Place your phone on quiet.
When you’re on a date, it’s very impolite if your phone is continuously buzzing with pointless WhatsApp or Facebook updates. Simply switch it to silent or airplane mode, if you can, and take pleasure in your date. If the two of you are watching a movie together, this is especially true. Being preoccupied with your phone while on a date is rude. Give your whole focus to your date.
Don’t pick up the phone unless you are certain it is an emergency (for instance, a family member is in the hospital or a caller would not call unless it was an emergency). Even so, it’s polite to let your date know why you won’t be stopping to chat since you have something important to attend to.
8. Make sure you have sufficient funds.
Make sure you have the means to at least offer to pay, even if your date treats you. Verify that your preferred credit card is present in your wallet and that it is located in your jacket or purse. Additionally, it’s a good idea to have cash on hand in case the establishment you’re visiting doesn’t accept credit cards or to make dividing the bill simpler.
9. Check your bag and pockets for anything you might need.
Pack gum, breath mints, tampons, pads, condoms, a phone charger if necessary, cosmetics, perfumes, keys, and anything else you could need in addition to money.
10. Plan your route to a venue.
Look up the route at least a couple hours beforehand. You can always utilize a GPS program on your phone, but you should absolutely estimate the travel time and choose your mode of transportation before you leave. Give yourself additional time and leave early if you’re driving or taking public transportation during rush hour.
Make sure you have the appropriate transportation in addition to directions so you can arrive at your date on time. Don’t rely on your date for transportation unless you have been dating them for a while.
11. Check your attire in advance.
Decide what you’ll wear a few days before your date if you truly want to be proactive. To avoid scrambling at the last minute to find the ideal shirt, it is advisable to do this sooner rather than later.
12. Dress to impress.
Of course, what you wear will depend on your personal preferences. However, you should consider the type of date you’re going on as well as outside aspects like the weather, location, and time of day before choosing an outfit.
While dressing appropriately is important, comfort in your clothing is just as crucial. Finding the ideal balance is the trick. Choose a look and feel-good attire, and you’ll project confidence the entire evening.
If you’re unsure whether the appearance suits you, skip it and store it for another occasion when you can ask your pals for their honest judgment. A bad message might be sent out if you spend the entire date checking yourself out to see if you look decent while attempting a new trend.
13. If needed, trim or shave.
Take some time to groom your face and body hair before your date after you’ve thoroughly cleaned yourself.
- Make sure your beard is perfectly groomed if you have one.
- If you think your date might get intimate, you might wish to groom your pubic area.
- If you’re proud of the way your eyebrows are sculpted, check them out and remove any stray hairs you see.
- Be sure to pluck or trim your ear and/or nose hair as well.
14. If you wish, put on cosmetics.
When going out, a lot of individuals, particularly girls, use cosmetics. What cosmetics you wear depends depend on the type of date and the look you’re going for, much like your choice of clothing.
Remember that men can also wear cosmetics. The majority of guys who wear cosmetics like a natural, “no makeup” appearance.
15. Smell good.
One of our most vital senses is also one of our most underappreciated ones — our sense of smell. Your scent subliminally reveals a lot about you to your date.
Don’t overdo the smell. There’s a fine line to cross between pleasant and offensive odors. Avoid dousing oneself in body spray, cologne, or perfume. When used in excess, even a moderate aroma might become overwhelming.
Remember to use deodorant. Deodorant is a necessity, even if you’re not a fan of scents. Apply some shortly before you go out on a date because you might be apprehensive and perspire more than usual.
16. In the mirror, work on your smile.
If you’re the kind of person whose smiles more closely resemble the Joker’s, this is especially crucial. Stand in front of a mirror and perfect all of your smile variations since practice makes perfect. Stick with it and flash it in front of your date once you locate one you like!
17. Clean your car.
Particularly if you want to pick up or drop off your date. Since no woman would ever want to go on a second date with a man who can’t even keep his car clean on special occasions, It really turns me off.
18. Get ready for a lively discussion.
You try to learn about the other person and generally get to know them on your first date. This entails posing inquiries that will make your date feel comfortable rather than awkward. Ask them about their hobbies, such as music or sports, if you are aware of them.
Keeping this in mind, questions are not interrogations. Ask open-ended inquiries rather than simple yes/no questions to allow the other person an opportunity to elaborate on their responses: “Why do you like…?” ’
Avoid starting up political discussions or sharing personal details about previous relationships because the purpose of the first date is to just enjoy each other’s company.
One of the concerns that many people have is that the conversation will fizzle out and that there might be awkward silences. To avoid this, one way is to prepare your questions and topics in advance. In other words, bring a few topics of conversation to your date.
19. Be a good listener.
Make an effort to listen well! Many people make the mistake of not actually listening while they are focused on attempting to impress their date with their intelligence, wit, prowess, or importance. This entails waiting for your date to finish speaking before interjecting and making sure you fully comprehended. You may, for instance, paraphrase what they just said or elicit further information.
20. Enjoy your time.
The best advice for a first date is to try to enjoy yourself. Don’t whine if the cuisine is horrible or the pub is bad. Remain impartial and polite; don’t pretend to enjoy it. Compliment the venue’s merits, such as its handy location, if your date took the time to select it.
Other Dating Tips To Help You
- Eat a few little snacks beforehand because nobody performs best when they are hungry. Therefore, eat a quick snack before leaving.
- When dating, maintain your composure and act naturally because anxiety can only lead to mistakes being made, such as saying or doing the wrong things.
- Show up on time. A good date is less likely to occur if you arrive agitated, grumpy, and overcome with guilt.
- Be genuine! Pretending to be someone you’re not in an effort to impress someone is pointless. To increase your chances of forming a sincere relationship with someone, present yourself truthfully.
- Be respectful. Good manners are always in fashion!
Complete Your Successful First Date With the Right Follow-Up
So you felt a connection, the conversation flowed and you had lots of things in common. Terrific. Now what? A successful first date is only as good as the follow-up, and this means arranging another meeting. You could do this right away, but it’s probably better not to put someone on the spot.
As a result, you two connected, the discussion flowed, and you shared many interests. Terrific. What’s next? A first date’s success depends on the follow-up, which calls for scheduling a second encounter. Though it would definitely be best to avoid putting anyone on the spot, you may do this right away.
Instead, why not send a message immediately after to express how much fun you had and to propose a date and location for another meeting. Don’t be impatient or demand a quick response because doing so will make you appear desperate. Remember that you’ve probably already distinguished yourself from the competitors if you approached your first date with a grin, a little amount of confidence, and an open mind.
The most crucial thing, though, is to keep in mind that success in dating, as in life, doesn’t come to you on a silver platter. If your first date didn’t go well, don’t let it get you down; instead, use what you learned, get inventive, and come up with a new plan. Keep in mind that there are a lot more fish in the sea. There is, in reality, a vast blue ocean out there.