How To Prepare For Your First Date

Going on a first date can be an exciting and highly anticipated experience. You may want to have a date with that new friend and potential partner. Preparing well for this event is critical to ensuring you have a great time and a deeper understanding of each other. In this article, we will provide some of the first date tips to make you mentally ready to enjoy the special moment. [1]

Helpful Tips To Prepare For A First Date

Many people believe they must change everything they do and how they do them when going on a first date. Our first-date advice for someone new to the dating world is to do whatever makes you feel the most at ease and secure. If you don't wear makeup before or don't like it, don't all of a sudden start wearing makeup on your first date. Making that drastic change may worsen your mental preparation and make you feel less confident. [2]

When preparing for a big date, try to feel less anxious. The time spent together should be a time for fun, romance, and real-life interaction. It would be best if you feel comfortable and confident. If your first date goes wrong, the experience may torment you for a long time, just like an unsuccessful job interview. Therefore, it is essential to feel confident in yourself, get on your everyday wear, and hang out with a positive attitude. [3]

If you have severe social anxiety, Online Therapy can help you deal with this issue.

Here are some important first-date tips for you:

Reduce online chatting and meet each other in person

There is nothing wrong with meeting new people on your favorite chatting platforms or dating apps. Yes, such chats could lead to a long-term romantic relationship. However, online conversations should be brief and not prevent you from physically meeting the person.

If you want to know your potential partner better, it is advisable to go on a date and engage in a physical conversation. You can discuss topics from your usual online chat conversations, such as your favorite hobbies, best night out, etc. Doing so will make you know each other better and even open your eyes to potential red flags.

Keep it simple

You may want to go out of your way on your first or second date and impress your partner. Still, it's best to keep it simple. Try to plan according to your capabilities. Stay within your spending limit instead of planning an elaborate outing.

You can plan a simple coffee shop date together in a public place. This will give you insight into the kind of person you're dealing with. If the coffee date goes well, you could plan to have lunch or dinner or go on a bike ride or country tour together. Your goal should be to start slowly and grow together.

Choose the right first date location

Where you have your first date, will say a lot about you and your new date. If you're wondering where you should have your first date, browsing some locations closer to you and your new date is an excellent idea, as you will only have to travel a short distance.

If you are still determining your preferred date, you should go somewhere neutral and low-key. A place with few people where both of you can relax and focus on getting to know each other and determining how well you relate.

You should only go to an expensive restaurant if you have enough money to spare. What do you do with the rest of the reservation or meal if you realize that the two of you will never be compatible, or your date is a total turn-off? A modest setting will make it easier for both of you to have a meaningful conversation without spending a fortune.

Don't make drastic changes to your appearance

Preparing for that first date you have been hoping for can be stressful and challenging. Feeling nervous is normal, but there are ways to handle your anxiety. One such way is to keep your appearance simple to impress your date.

Changing your look drastically may be something not to consider. Dress appropriately. Making an effort to improve your appearance. Experimenting with different hairstyles and colors is tempting, but always remember to be yourself. Making sweeping adjustments may be disorienting and give the wrong signal. [4]

It would be best if you focus on making slight improvements. Think about the clothing and items in your wardrobe that can give you an attractive look. It would help to choose accessories, makeup, and hairstyles that will make you confident and graceful without changing who you are.

Making minimal changes to your appearance will give you your most desired self-worth. It'll help you relax and enjoy the moment without being bothered by how you look or what your date might think of you. All these lead to a positive dating experience.

Create a solid first impression

Your facial expressions matter on first dates. People create snap judgments about you based on your appearance and manner within seconds. Making a good first impression is easy if you smile.

A pleasant smile is contagious, an indicator of contentment, and a skill that can be learned. Just increasing your rate of smiling will benefit your mood and the mood of others around you. The positive energy is what matters most. [5]

Take care to dress appropriately for the event, keeping your style. You don't need to wear a tuxedo. Still, there are better ideas than wearing a T-shirt and shorts.

Be confident

One of the best first-date tips you can get is to be confident. The most alluring accessory for a person is a confident demeanor. Practicing self-compassion can make your first date successful.

Rather than hiding your true self, it's best to take a deep breath and reveal yourself to the world. You can employ different strategies to give you self-confidence before the date.

One of these strategies is your body language. Hold your head, shoulders, and chest up high and out. Repeatedly practicing this stance in front of a mirror will help you adjust to it more quickly.

Wearing a brilliant smile can also show confidence. Don't cover up that smile with your hands. Your friendly smile and expression can go a long way toward establishing good vibes with the other person.

Keep an open mind

Things may go differently than your expectations during your first date. In such a situation, you shouldn't let your emotions get the best of you. It would be best if you keep your cool and thought things through.

Whether they pertain to the person you're going out with, the location of your date, or the date itself, try not to have negative assumptions or predictions. Any negative assumptions you may have formed should be abandoned.

If you feel pessimistic when working towards your first date, you will likely have a horrible experience. On a date, anything could happen. You shouldn't lose sleep worrying about the outcome of the date- whether it'll be good or bad A negative mindset and unsettled mind can make you lose focus.

The world is more understanding and tolerant than it was in the 90s, so don't act too surprised about people's sexual preferences and kinks. Your date may be bisexual or have a foot fetish and choose to open up to you. On the other hand, they may be eager to use "assistance" from a place like an adult novelty store. Be clear about what you want, but respect their right to make responsible choices. Don't judge or frown on their sexual behaviors.

Have safety plans in place

An effective safety plan is crucial when going on your first date. This is important because going on a date with someone you barely know in person could be dangerous if you're not careful. So, it's better to be aware of the environment and employ whatever security measure is convenient for you.

You should have a realistic plan for your safety in case the person turns out to be who you didn't think they were. It would help to select a neutral location where there are other people that you can easily reach out to if you're in danger.

Get ready for your date by listening to your go-to playlist

As the day for your first date draws nearer, try to assemble a playlist of all your favorite music and listen to them to prepare you for your upcoming event. It is well known, that music can influence how we feel and act. Listening to your favorite song before a date is a surefire way to feel pumped up and to put you in a good mood.

A bad date does not mean you guys are not a good match

When some people go out on a first date, they feel like they need to fit in or be a better match. You need to know that an engaging conversation can create a window into new ways of living. It doesn't mean the date was terrible at all.

Don't immediately dismiss a potential partner on a date just because you did not have a great conversation or they don't share your taste in music or fashion. Even if they can't answer your questions the way you want them, you still have to be patient. Please keep an open mind and get to know the person before making assumptions about your compatibility.

Conclusion

Planning your first date may cause you to think and worry excessively, especially if you've never gone on a date. But you don't have to exert yourself to impress your date. In this article, we have provided a few things to do for your first dating experience. You should wear a comfortable, neat outfit. Be composed and be yourself, show confidence and enthusiasm, ask questions about your date, and listen carefully to your date's answers. Your ultimate goal should be to know the person, have fun, and enjoy the moment.

If you're worried that you may have social anxiety, you can take this quick anxiety test.

FAQ

Reference

1. 6 Reasons To Say Yes to a Second Date, Even if You Didn't Feel an Initial Spark
2. Positive Mindset: How to Develop a Positive Mental Attitude
3. I'm still single, but this is why I'm quitting dating apps like Tinder and Hinge forever
4. First Date Tips: How to Have a Successful First Date the Blue Ocean Way
5. Why do we make snap judgments based on facial appearance?