While first dates can be exciting, they can also bring with them a lot of stress as you try to prepare for what could be the last first date of your life. With all this pressure, you might feel like you don’t know what to do, what to wear, or what to say.
Luckily, with a little preparation, you can nail any first date all while everything appearing to come as effortlessly to you as possible. To show you how this can be done, here are three ways to get yourself ready for a first date.
Practice Some Self-Compassion
The key to having a great time on a first date is to get yourself in the right state of mind. To do this, you’re going to want to turn down the negative voices in your head and turn up the positive ones.
One trick to doing this, according to Vanessa Van Edwards, a contributor to the Science Of People, is to practice self-compassion. While most people are familiar with the concept of being compassionate toward others, many fail to realize that they should be equally, if not more, compassionate toward themselves. To really practice this, try to forgive yourself for things you’ve done in the past, let go of any fear you have of not being enough, and realize that you have more in common with people than you might instinctually realize.
Get Yourself Looking And Feeling Good
Once you’ve got yourself in the right headspace to enjoy yourself on your first date, it’s time to get yourself looking and feeling good about the experience you’ll have.
For many people, getting physically ready for a first date includes doing things like taking a shower and using shaving cream to smooth out all their rough edges, washing their hair and body so everything smells nice, and coming at the date with a fresh, clean face. In addition to this, Elisa and Carolyn Twersky, contributors to Seventeen.com, share that you’ll want to make sure you wear something fitting for the date that you feel comfortable and confident in.
Avoid Doing A Deep Dive On Social Media
Many modern daters find themselves spending a lot of time researching their date before they even go out together. But while a little research can be good to ensure the person you’re meeting isn’t a threat to you, Octavia Welby, a contributor to The Guardian Soulmates, advises against doing a deep dive on social media prior to your date.
By avoiding digging too deep into your date’s social media profiles before you go on your first date, you can allow yourself to remain open-minded and really get to know your date for who they are in real life rather than who they are online.
If you’ve got a big first date coming up, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you prepare for this occasion.