First dates can be one of the most exciting and nerve-racking experiences for women. There are so many things to think about: what should I wear? What should we do? Where should we go?
How will he act on the date? These questions, and more, will course through your mind as you prepare for that first meeting with someone new.
The good news is that there are some very simple first date tips for women that every woman can follow to make sure her first date goes smoothly.
1. Plan Ahead of Your Date
You don’t have to map out every detail of the date, but knowing where you are going before your first meeting is a great way to reduce stress.
It is also important that both people know what will happen and when so there aren’t any misunderstandings or unwanted surprises.
The other benefit for planning ahead? You’ll be able to mentally prepare yourself for all aspects of the date: you might think about topics to discuss during dinner or activities after drinks, how much money you’re willing (and prepared) to spend, etc.
This step can help put your mind at ease as well as keep an open dialogue with your partner on how each person envisions this new relationship unfolding.
Your plan doesn’t need to be complicated. It could be something as simple as dinner at a restaurant followed by the movie.
2. Dress Appropriately
This is a great tip for any first date, and it applies to both men and women.
Regardless of what you decide on doing, whether you’re going to dinner or meeting up at the beach, make sure your clothing is appropriate.
Make sure that whatever you wear is comfortable enough for sitting in a restaurant all night long, along with being presentable if something fun comes up after drinks (e.g., dancing).
Wearing clothes that are too tight or revealing can be distracting from the real purpose of this getting-to-know-you outing: having an enjoyable time together.
Dressing appropriately will keep both people focused on each other instead of how hot and cold they feel based on their outfit choices.
3. Let a Relative or Friend Know Where You’re Going
This is another great tip for any first date, and it applies to both men and women.
It can be as simple as letting someone know that you’re going on a date with so-and-so at such-and-such place.
You don’t need to tell your best friend every detail of the evening ahead of time if you are seeing each other again, but letting one person in on where you will be before your date eases some anxiety about being out late or getting home safely after having too much fun during drinks.
Sometimes when people get nervous they feel like they have less energy because their body conserves its resources by slowing down functions that aren’t essential to immediate survival (e.g., breathing).
This can cause a person to feel tired and not be able to have as much fun on the date, so having one person who knows where you are can take some of that anxiety away from being alone or feeling like there’s no way out.
Having this support system in place is also important for safety reasons if something goes wrong during your first date (e.g., car trouble).
If you suddenly find yourself stranded somewhere with someone new after midnight, it will be much easier to reach out to an understanding family member or friend than a stranger just met earlier that night at dinner.
4. Be Yourself
This is one of the most important tips for any first date, and it applies to both men and women.
Be yourself on the date without trying too hard or worrying about what you’re doing wrong if things don’t go exactly as planned.
If he doesn’t like who you really are then that’s his problem, especially when your partner leaves you.
This person will get a chance to know you because this is your first time getting together so there should be some understanding between each other while figuring out how compatible you might be outside of work or school.
5. Avoid Controversial and Serious Conversion Topics
This is another great tip for any first date, and it applies to both men and women.
Avoid discussing religion or politics on the first date because you don’t know where this new person stands on certain issues so approaching these topics might be a big turn-off if they are in favor of one side but their partner hates it.
Instead focus on having fun together by talking about lighthearted subjects like hobbies, favorite restaurants, etc., that will help them open up with each other while getting to know each other better (but without digging too deep into personal matters).
6. Watch Out for Red Flags
This is another great tip for any first date, and it applies to both men and women.
If you notice anything about your new partner during the course of the night that makes you uncomfortable then this is a red flag.
Even if they just say one or two things that set off alarm bells in your head, listen to what those misgivings are telling you so as not to ignore them later on down the road when these issues come up again between each other (e.g., making racist comments).
7. Never Ignore Your Gut Feeling
This is another great tip for any first date, and it applies to both men and women.
While you should try your best not to ignore red flags during the course of the evening (e.g., drinking too much), if something happens at any point that makes you feel like the person across from you isn’t trustworthy then don’t ignore those feelings either.
If this feeling persists even after they’ve gone home or dropped you off somewhere else where it’s safe, there might be an issue with continuing a relationship beyond just casual dating (or getting together in general).
Learn More First Date Tips for Women
As you can see, there are so many first date tips for women to help you have a great time. To learn more about this subject, continue reading this blog for more helpful articles.