How to Behave on a First Date

A first date is your first opportunity to get to know your date and to see what they are really like in person. You should relax and be yourself, but yourself on best behaviour.

Here are a few tips for how to behave on a first date.

Be fresh

First impressions are very important and there’s one thing that will really make a difference – how you smell.

Wash yourself and make sure to apply enough fragrance to smell nice, but not so much that they can smell you coming.

Also, minty fresh breath is essential if you don’t want to put you date off straight away.

Dress to impress

Your first date outfit should be clean, wrinkle-free and appropriate for whatever activity you are taking part in. Turning up coated in pet hair, or stinking of smoke will not impress your date and will make you look like you don’t care enough to make an effort.

Turn up on time

Turning up late will put your date on edge as they will start to wonder whether they have been stood up.

Take a look in advance to see how long it will take you to get to where you are meeting and take a dry-run if don’t know the route well.

If you are running late, get in touch with your date to let them know as soon as possible.

Don’t run away

If you see your date and aren’t too keen on how they look in person, don’t turn around and run away. You may change your mind as you get to know them and nobody deserves to be treated like that.

Keep conversation equal

Nerves affect people in different ways – some people talk at top speed without taking a breath, while others are silenced by the butterflies.

When you both relax, try to take it in terms to talk so that one person doesn’t start to dominate the conversation.

Stick to safe topics of conversation

Avoid talking about religion or politics on a first date and try to keep rude language under control.

Also, don’t whine about your ex, or say “my ex used to…”.

Don’t use your phone

Keep your phone in your pocket, or bag so that you don’t get distracted by it.