Dating can be an exciting time. It’s a chance to meet new people, have a laugh and get to do entertaining things that you otherwise wouldn’t. However, it’s also a nerve-wracking time and no matter how much you tell yourself not to feel worried, those jitters always find a way of creeping in.
Of course, that’s only natural! But whether you are looking for a bit of fun or are searching for ‘the one’, you want to be the best person you can be when on a date. People always advise to ‘just be yourself’ when dating, but when meeting new people, it isn’t that easy. So, to make sure you are comfortable and are being the best you possible, here are some handy tips.
Make It Fun
The type of person you are determines the kind of dates you like to go on. You might be impressed by a wining and dining experience or you may prefer a game of crazy golf. But whatever you do, a great way of being yourself and creating a comfortable atmosphere is to have fun. The point of a get-together is not to be stressed out but to enjoy yourself and see how things go. So, don’t put too much pressure on things and this will help you to be more you.
Of course, we have all lacked a little social interaction over the past year and lots of us are experiencing dating anxiety after lockdown. This is why it’s extra important to pick a place where you can guarantee laughs in a relaxed environment. Because of this anxiety, it’s also good to choose somewhere with a few distractions and talking points to ease us back into the realm of being sociable, especially with people we don’t know as well.
There are also lots of other reasons to make your date fun. For example, it allows you to see what you both have in common. And going somewhere a little less formal takes away some of the pressure for you to put on a performance too.
Be Honest
Being honest isn’t about telling your date their outfit choice is odd or revealing TMI so that you end up cringing the next day. It’s about being honest with who you are and what your interests and achievements are. People will be way more impressed by someone genuine rather than someone who has claimed to scale Big Ben whilst fighting a dragon at the same time.
This also means being sincere about what you do and don’t like. If your date is going well, the truth will come out at some point. When the nerves get the better of you, it’s easy to blabber on but don’t pretend to like things that you don’t just to impress another person. So, if they are a hardcore vegan and you are not, just tell them the truth. Because it will be much more appreciated and more importantly, you are being more real with yourself!
And remember, you are more interesting than you may be giving yourself credit for! After all, there is a reason that you have been matched together. So, to be you, think about how you want to present yourself – just because you want to show off your best qualities doesn’t mean you have to be over the top.
Make Your Date Feel Comfortable Too
Think about how you would like your date to treat you and then treat them the same way. This means throwing a few compliments their way (without going overboard) and taking initiative with ideas and greetings (without being dominating). It’s also important to validate their thoughts and opinions without barging in with yours. Treat them like you would a friend (but a sexy one who you don’t want to friend zone). Although a bit of friendly banter or disagreement can be good, you don’t want to be so argumentative or intense that it creates an atmosphere that makes people freeze up.
It also helps to be upfront about feeling nervous to address the elephant in the room. To really help someone else reduce those nerves and feel comfortable, you can play some word games with your date or tell some funny stories. Keep in mind that no one ever gets to know each other 100% on a first rendezvous, so try not to overload them with anecdotes or questions.
Making your date feel comfortable will show that you genuinely care and will give you a good first impression. Dressing in a way that makes you feel relaxed and more like you will give off instant ‘comfortable’ vibes too. Keeping things informal will be beneficial to you both.
Now that we are up and dating again, remembering these pointers will help you to be yourself on a romantic endeavour. Whether you are doing something fun, being honest, or making the other person feel at ease, remember to have a good time and to always be your best you.
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