Dating is a great way to get to know new people and have fun while you’re doing it. Many dates end up being formal occasions while others are more casual. You could end up at an ax throwing venue enjoying fried food or eating a formal sit-down meal at a 5-star restaurant. No matter which one you’re heading to, these tips can help you prepare for a great date night.
Prepare Your Outfit
Choose an outfit that makes you feel confident, but that suits the venue. If it’s a fancy restaurant, go for something formal. If it’s just drinks and casual conversation, jeans are probably great! Accessorize with pieces that bring out your personality. This can be anything from jewelry to shoes as long as it makes you feel like yourself.
Groom Yourself
Take a shower, shave, and put on some lotion. You could even pull out your blow dryer and give yourself a more put-together look for your hair. If you like, you could also do your nails and put on some makeup. Just don’t overdo it. No one likes to be catfished. If you’re going for a more natural look, skip the makeup and just focus on making sure your skin looks healthy by using products that are right for your skin type.
Plan Ahead
Research the date location and confirm the time and date. If you plan to have a few drinks, make sure you are prepared to have a friend or an Uber come to pick you up. Create a backup plan in case something goes wrong, or you need to leave early for any reason. If it’s a first date, you could even have a friend call you an hour into it to give you an out if needed.
Practice Good Hygiene
Brush your teeth and use mouthwash. Good hygiene is always appealing. No one likes a stinky date. Use mouthwash if needed to help freshen your breath. Deodorant is also essential. If you are prone to breakthrough sweating or smells, make sure you put some on right before your date. Deodorant can help you smell good, even if you don’t shower or bathe right before going out on a date.
Be Confident
Focus on the positive aspects of yourself. When you’re feeling down about your appearance, it’s easy to focus on your flaws and imagine that everyone else is noticing them too. But this kind of thinking can be damaging. It makes you feel self-conscious and unattractive even when you’re not being judged by anyone else. Instead of letting these thoughts get the best of you, try to shift your attention away from what’s wrong with how you look and toward what’s right about it instead. Practice positive affirmations as well to break through any lies you still tell yourself about how you look. When used regularly over time these statements can help boost your self-esteem and confidence.
Be Respectful
Going on a date means getting to know the other person. Neither of you should dominate the conversations. Listen intently, be kind and courteous, and ask good questions. You don’t want to be overly critical of your date, but it’s okay to share your opinions if you differ on a topic.
Be Open Minded
Being open to new experiences is an important part of dating. You may not know what to expect, so it’s important that you’re curious and ask questions. This can help you feel more comfortable in the situation and have a better time overall. While being open-minded is important, it’s also fine to set healthy boundaries. Like if you’re terrified of heights, then going to an amusement park may not be the best date location for you both. It’s okay to speak up about your needs.
Be Prepared
Prepare for conversation topics. You want to be able to talk about yourself, but it’s also important to ask questions and show interest in the other person. Have a few funny stories ready. If things get awkward or quiet during dinner, try sharing one of these anecdotes as a way of breaking up the tension. But don’t share about past relationships just yet.
Be On Time
Give yourself enough time to get ready. This means planning ahead for traffic and other potential delays. You can even try arriving a few minutes early just to be sure you’ll be on time. If you’re going to be delayed for any reason, make sure you communicate with your date as far in advance as possible.
Be Yourself
Don’t pretend to be someone you are not. It’s okay to put your best foot forward, but lying about hobbies, likes, and experiences is a bad idea. So be yourself. If your date isn’t the one for you, it’s okay. There are plenty of fish in the sea.
