So you’ve put some time and effort into your profile, and maybe even had a bit of a chat online – sent some texts and suddenly you’re at the crunch point – the first date. For many people, especially if they’re just starting out, this is the scary point. This is where it all suddenly becomes real, not just words on a screen. You might be well aware that relationships can be as easy or as fraught as you make them, but we all sometimes need a bit of a kick up the backside to help us through the date and have a chance of agreeing to meet up a second time.
Getting Ready
While there’s never an absolutely fool-proof way to attract someone, there’s loads you can do to increase your chances. By taking some time with how you present yourself and thinking about how you act, you can help make that date more relaxed and allow yourself to shine. All you need is a bit of time, a sense of humour, some basic hygiene and a willingness to listen.
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We’ll say this up-front: nothing is more off-putting to your date than a sense that you’re just not looking after yourself.
After all, if you’re not looking after you, how can they expect you to look after them? You don’t need to look like you’ve just stepped out of a fashion shoot, but you shouldn’t look like your hair’s been dragged through shrubbery. - When it comes to what you’re wearing, take some pride in your appearance. Again, you don’t need to be a peacock and dedicated follower of fashion, but at the very least turning up in something recently washed helps demonstrate that you’re not some small child that needs organizing; you can take care of yourself.
- Lastly, just relax. Go ahead, take that deep breath before you go out. There’s very little that will turn off your date like you coming across as needy. If you go into this date just looking to enjoy yourself and the company of the person you’re there to meet up with then you’re more than halfway there, and you’ll stop trying to double-guess yourself the whole time.
The Secret to success on your first date is to not try and be something you’re not. Don’t try to be all things to all people. You’re not looking to become the most popular person on the site, just the best you can be. If you’ve been honest, and stay honest, then you’ll find your date interested in you, not in whatever fantasy you’ve created – and that’s far easier in the long run.
Good luck!