Everyone knows they should look their best on their first date. However, coming into your first date with only that in mind is a surefire recipe for disaster.
If you’re interested in more than just a first date, we’ve got some time-tested dos and don’ts that should help you take things further. To save time finding your perfect match, be sure to sign up for a dating service Singapore singles trust.
First Date Don’ts
Let’s take a look at some of the “don’ts” that apply to most first dates.:
Don’t #1: Discuss Religion and Politics
We understand that a person’s views on religion and politics are a direct reflection of the values they have. Compatibility in these areas is usually a sign of a good match. Plus, a lot of people do like spirited discussions of these topics, and many even find it sexy. However, any view you express about any complex topic can be easily misinterpreted, no matter how articulate you are. In other words, you have to give your date a chance to like you before you drop those kinds of bombs on them.
Unless you’re absolutely sure about where they stand, maybe you should wait until at least the second date to discuss these kinds of issues in depth. Otherwise, there might not be a second date at all.
Don’t #2: Try Too Hard to Be Funny
You don’t want to be boring, but you don’t want to look like you’re desperate for attention either. If anything, being too much of a try-hard will be a bigger turn-off for most people.
As a general rule, only laugh at things you think are truly funny, and don’t force yourself to make your date laugh. Maybe you can bring things up a notch later, but you should probably spend more time focusing on your date’s interests at this stage.
Don’t #3: Lie to Make Yourself Look Good
While it’s true that a lot of people make up self-inflating white lies, it doesn’t mean that it’s the right thing to do. You don’t have to share anything especially embarrassing, but you do want to show your date that you can be trusted.
Most people are probably better at detecting fibs than you think, and getting caught will just make you look bad. Even if you do get a second date, chances are, that you will have set your potential relationship on extremely shaky ground.
The fact is, outright lies and misrepresentation can lower the odds of a second date, and they will weaken any relationship that happens to be built on them.
Don’t #4: Go Where Other Singles Go
Trendy places where other singles go to hook up are going to be full of people who are made up to look their best. Unless you’re completely confident in how “hot” you are, you should probably avoid the distraction and potential competition that you’ll find in these places.
Don’t #5: Put Out
Well, you could if you want to but some emotional distance is also probably a good idea this early on. Generally, you’d want to get to know your date much better before putting out to avoid regret or awkwardness, later on. However, if you both consent to it and are just on a date to have that kind of fun, just make sure that you both use protection.
First Date Do’s
What you do on your first date is just as important as what you don’t do. Here are some of the “dos” that will help you score that second date:
Do #1: Be Open to Unconventional Date Ideas
Clubs and restaurants are not the only places to go on a first date. Parks, museums, concerts, art exhibits, libraries, flea markets, cooking classes—these are all pretty interesting places to meet up for the first time. Plus, they’re way more memorable than most trendy clubs or restaurants, putting you way in front of your date’s mind. Moreover, you only live once. If you hit it off, you’ll have a great story of the first time you met. If you don’t, you’ll still have something fun to remember.
Do #2: Wear Comfortable Shoes
If you’re wearing heels or shoes that you haven’t broken in yet, you’re going to have a bad time if you find yourself doing any kind of serious walking. And chances are, you will.
The thing about dates is, you’ll never know where the night will take you. You’ll never know if you have to take the train or walk a couple of blocks to your date’s favourite dive if you both agree the first option was kind of lame. Having comfortable shoes will make it all that much easier to enjoy your time together.
Do #3: Look Up Your Date Online
Surprisingly, not everyone does this. In any case, it’s important to get a good feel for your date’s interests, at least the things that she makes publicly available. Having this knowledge makes it easier to steer the conversation towards things that you and your date both enjoy. It also makes it easier to avoid topics that might ruin the odds of a second date, should you feel like it.
Do #4: Wear Good Underwear
Even if you’re not hitting the sheets with your date, you want to be wearing underwear that gives you the confidence to do so. Not only will you be more comfortable but you could also potentially avoid the squirming and fidgeting that comes with wearing worn-out or ill-fitting undies.
As a huge bonus, having comfortable underwear can also be great for your mental health. As such, you could say that wearing good underwear is just good advice in general.
Do #5: Ask for a Second Date
We promised we’d tell you how to score a second date. This is it. All you have to do is ask. Of course, it helps if you both had a good time together.
While following all the other advice on this list will help maximise the chances of getting another date, the only way you could be sure is to ask for another one, preferably at the end of your first date. You could message your date after, but asking for a second date in person just shows a kind of confidence that most people would probably appreciate.
These are all more guidelines than rules. After all, you are engaging with other human beings. That kind of thing is always messy, and there are always countless exceptions. In any case, you won’t want to go out a second time with everyone you date, and that’s okay.
If you do want to take things beyond the first date, though, following the advice above should help give you that option. Good luck!
