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First dates are a nerve-wracking experience for many people. Some mentally agonize over the date, hoping that everything goes perfectly. Sometimes, people get so caught up in the tiny details of dating that they fail to notice any major mistakes they make. Read on to learn five mistakes many people make on first dates that you should try to avoid.
Picking a bad location
Most people try to pick a great first date location. They might base their decision on how cool the place is, or how romantic it can be. These are all good reasons for selecting a venue, but you should consider really basic criteria, too. For example, consider how stressful traffic might be in that area on a weekend. Think about whether it’ll be too loud there to hold a conversation. Make sure your date can even eat the food there, or take part in the activities.
In short, a good dating location needs to be, first and foremost, a place where conversation can flow, and where stress will be kept to a minimum. If you lose sight of that, you might wind up in a place that seems amazing in theory, but doesn’t work so well in practice.
Talking about yourself too much
When some people get nervous, they talk. In a dating situation where you are likely to be both nervous and trying to impress someone, there is a good chance you’ll feel compelled to talk about yourself a lot. Try to monitor how much you are talking, and how much of the conversation is about you. Ask questions and listen well. Don’t forget that a date is an opportunity for two people to learn more about each other, not a one-sided lecture.
Talking about heavy topics too soon
While some people are fine with diving right into heavy subjects, most people approach certain topics with a bit of reserve. In most cases, it’s best to avoid talking about things like politics and religion early on. That’s not to say you can’t have conversations that are smart; it’s a great idea to share a bit of wit and knowledge about the world. You should try to keep the conversation relatively light, though.
Bringing up exes
The last thing you want is for someone to think you are not over your last relationship. Bringing up stories about your ex, especially if you do it repeatedly, is a surefire way to turn your date off. Keep talk of your exes to a minimum. Better yet, don’t mention them at all. A first date is the start of something new. There’s no need to tarnish a new beginning with somber talk of your romantic past.
Using your phone
Many people use their phone continuously throughout the day. It’s an understandable habit considering that, for a lot of people, their day is a never-ending string of text messages, voice mails, business calls, and e-mails. However, during a date, that habit must stop. It is difficult to establish fact-to-face rapport if someone is always consulting his or her phone. It is also rude. Put the phone away until the date is over.
