Dating 101 - How to Prepare for a First Date

Fans of the Big Bang Theory were probably not surprised when Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler finally began dating.

In one episode Amy describes Sheldon as “He’s handsome. He’s lanky. He’s brilliant.

And his skin has a pale, waxy quality” to which her friend Penny replied, “Well, sickly is the new sexy.”

Although the Rules Have Changed

From celebrities to geeks living in their parents’ basement and everyone in between, everyone has the same jitters before a first date.

It’s not like times during Little House on the Prairie when dates consisted of barn raisings, wagon rides, and community potluck suppers.

Today’s dating world is complex.

Women are making the rules, and in some cases even footing the bill for a date!

Along with dating logistics, the places to go on dates have changed drastically throughout the years.

In the case of long-distance relationships, some dates never leave the Skype chat window. Or in the case of my friends Tony and Rachel, the World of Warcraft screen.

That’s right.

There are even couples who go on dates via their favorite online video games.

Preparation Remains the Same

The reason for dating has not changed so why would how you prepare for a date change?

Regardless of how you met the person you plan to go out with for the first time, the preparation techniques largely remain the same, even though we use different fashions and modern products like teeth whiteners and scented deodorant.

Here is a quick list of ideas to consider when preparing for a first date.

• Avoid Expectations – Having expectations is like asking for disappointment.
  • Try and remain open-minded and avoid holding instant grudges against things like education level, age, or family history.

• Stay Positive – Even if you’re just preparing for an instant message conversation, a positive attitude will shine through the text on the screen.
  • Staying positive will also provide a much-needed boost to your self-confidence as well.

• Look Presentable – Looks don’t matter, but neatness does.
  • Make sure you bathe and shampoo your hair.
  • Trim any hair that shouldn’t be there, and style any hair that should be there.
  • And make sure your fingernails are neat and trim.

• Dress Nicely – Nobody expects you to wear a suit and tie for a first date at a coffee shop, but you shouldn’t wear your grubbiest clothes, either.
  • Wear something that is comfortable and clean, and make sure that your shoes are fairly clean as well.

• Smell Good – But don’t drown yourself in cologne or perfume.
  • Some people are allergic to scents and even a little too much causes them to experience serious migraines.
  • A little scent goes a long way in most cases.

• Smile Genuinely – People can spot a fake smile from a mile away.
  • Brush your teeth, use breath freshener, and remember to floss.
  • Nobody wants to spend a date staring at someone with last night’s leftover broccoli in their teeth.
  • If your teeth are dingy, you might use a home teeth whitening solution to retain their natural sparkle.

• Act Natural – Nobody likes a fake person.
  • If you try too hard, then it’s going to be pretty obvious that you’re trying too hard.
  • It will be easier to act naturally if you get enough rest the night before and don’t let yourself get stressed out before the big event.

• Don’t Drink – It might be tempting to knock back a drink to relax before a date, but that’s the wrong move.
  • If your date smells alcohol on your breath then it could be the beginning of the end of what could have been a great relationship.

Keep Up the Flow of Conversation

Even if your date isn’t what you were expecting, flash your dazzling smile and keep up the flow of conversation.

There are several ways to do this. You could talk about current events. If you have a mutual friend, then you could talk about how you each met that person. You could talk about sports, but it might be wise to avoid politics on a first date.

Another way to find potential conversation topics is through social networks.

If you and your date are friends on a social network, like Facebook or Twitter, it’s a good chance that they’ve already checked out who your friends are and what types of things you like.

There is a fine line between doing your homework and looking like a stalker.

If you and your date aren’t friends on a social network, avoid digging around too much, and use the information wisely.

For example, if your new date is a fan of dog rescue sites you might mention a dog you had as a child.

However, if all your new date’s page reveals is a plethora of Farmville updates, chances are a conversation about how global warming affects Midwestern farming communities isn’t a great choice.

The most important thing is that you have fun, and if it doesn’t work out then who knows – maybe your date has a friend who is just your type!

Speak Your Mind, With Your Opinion

Nice to see you made it to the end of the post. Here’s what you can do next:

• Do you think date preparation has changed, over the years?
• Which one of our list do you think is most important?
• Click one of the Share buttons – your friends can then read this article too.

And thanks for reading too – Let us know your thoughts in the comments.