First dates can feel extremely stressful. However, you can avoid the awkwardness that comes with those first date jitters if you go into the date with some clear ideas on what to do. Luckily for you, we have five suggestions on what to do (and not to do) on a first date.
1. Avoid generic responses.
When you participate in a conversation, you must give the other person some info to work with. This means you should avoid using short phrases or simple “yes” or “no” responses. You should also avoid generic responses that parrot back what the other person said. Taking part in a conversation means offering your own perspective on things, not simply parroting back very short sentences.
2. Ask relevant and interesting questions.
If you want to keep the conversation flowing, the questions you ask matter just as much as your responses. Asking unique questions makes the other person feel like you genuinely care about them and want to learn more about their life. This, in turn, makes it easier for your date to open up more.
While you want to make the conversation fun and interesting, you should avoid overly quirky or random questions. You should also avoid inappropriate topics like your pocket pussy or your sexuality. There’s a fine line between playful and awkward, so watch out.
3. Put your phone away.
Phones distract us and cause us to miss important cues during a date. This can leave your date questioning your intentions and may make them think less of you during the date. So, try putting your phone away during your date.
Furthermore, people who end up absorbed in their phones during dates often share less information and absorb less information too. This makes it hard to determine compatibility, and will lower your chances of a second date.
4. Keep things light and positive.
If you want to avoid awkward silence during your first date, you should definitely keep the conversation light. There is no need to bring up negative or controversial topics, like politics or religion. These topics will make your date feel uncomfortable and could start arguments. Instead, stick to topics like pets, movies, and food.
5. Don’t bring up past relationships!
Neither of you should bring up past relationships during your first date. Doing that can make the other person very uncomfortable. On top of that, it might make the other person think that you are interested in getting back together with your ex-partner.
If you bring up your ex-partner during the first date, it could end badly. Your date might feel like they are being used to settle some kind of score, which would make them feel incredibly uncomfortable. So, avoid talking about ex-partners on a first date at all costs.
First dates always feel stressful, but with these tips, your date is very likely to end up being great. If it does not, it is not the end of the world. After all, you can always choose to go on another date with someone else!
Feature Image by Alan Quirvan on Unsplash
