First dates are hard. There’s a lot of pressure on you to make a good impression on your date and that can really be difficult. Of course, the most important thing to remember when preparing for a first date is to just be yourself. If any of the things on this list go against who you are as a person,
ignore them. You want to make a good impression, yes, but you don’t want to give the impression you’re someone other than who you are, for better or for worse. Remember, if the date goes well it may lead to a relationship and you don’t want to start a new relationship on a lie. With all that said, there are a few common first date mistakes that you can avoid so you can increase your chances of having a successful first date. Let’s talk about those first date mistakes now.4: Bringing up controversial topics.
I love a great debate. Nothing gets my blood pumping more than a heated conversation about something I’m passionate about. With that said, while I was still on the market, I did my best to avoid controversial subjects on the first date. The first date is about getting to know each other. It’s about seeing if you have chemistry or anything in common. It’s not about getting into an argument about abortion, religion, gay marriage, racism, politics etc. If you love that kind of heated debate and having a partner than can challenge you is important to you, by all means, debate away but maybe save it for the second or third day. My husband and I have little common ground when it comes to politics and the like and had I decided to approach those issues before I knew him as well as I do, I’m not sure things would’ve gone the same way for us.
3: Not eating or eating too much.
Unless you’re going dutch on a date, you don’t want to order the most expensive thing on the menu. It’s just bad manners. To me, this rule doesn’t just apply to a date though. It should be common practice anytime you go to eat with someone who has offered to pick up the tab. I don’t care if they’re rich or have told you nothing is too expensive. If you want to order the lobster, go back to the restaurant and order it when you’re picking up the tab yourself. Here’s a rule of thumb I like to follow. Ask what they’re ordering, look for it on the menu and order something that is either the same price or less expensive. If they’re ordering the most expensive thing on the menu then by all means, feel free to do the same. And yes, I do the same whether I’m eating with my husband, my friends or my mother. It’s just polite and I always hope anyone I’m picking up the tab for will do the same. On the other hand, you don’t want to sit at the table with your date and nibble away at your food like a dainty bird to look more ladylike. Being ladylike has nothing to do with how much you eat. If your date buys you dinner and you barely eat any of it, it’s almost insulting. If you’re normally a small eater (as I am), mention that and order something you think you can finish.
2: Trying too hard with your appearance.
Unless your first date is taking place on the red carpet of some Hollywood event, you probably can lay off some of the glam. You should try to look your best, of course, but you also shouldn’t go too overboard with the hair, makeup and outfit. Your first date look should be a slightly more polished version of your typical look. Remember, you want your date to get to know you. Besides that, if you look too ‘made up, you’re sending a negative first impression. Your date may see you as a girl who cares about how she looks but your date may also see you as insecure or high maintenance. Just relax. Play up your strong points modestly. Wear something that compliments your figure but doesn’t show off a lot of skin. Showing a lot of skin on a first date is a big no-no. You’ll look easy and desperate, not sexy and alluring.
1: Going on about your ex.
Talking about your ex tells your date that your ex is still on your mind which is turn makes your date question whether or not you’re ready to move on. Your ex doesn’t have to be completely off limits, of course but keep the mentions to a minimum. This is probably going to be hard if you’re young or if you’ve only really been in one relationship because chances are, your ex will be a big part of your history and most of the stories you have to tell – good or bad – will involve your ex in one way or another. Try to find other ways to talk about your experiences without relying too heavily on stories that involve your ex. If that isn’t really working for you, and you find yourself talking about your ex, make a joke of it. Your date will see that you recognize it and are willing to joke about it.
