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So you got a date….!

Well done! You’ve finally overcome your anxiety and asked out your crush. While that may have seemed like the tricky part, it’s time to plan your first date. As the potential beginning of a fruitful relationship, the pressure is on to have a great time.

Whether you met on an online dating website or through a mutual friend, the key is to make a lasting impression. Here’s a list of tips to ensure you have an awesome first date.

first date panic?

1. Pick the perfect location

Chances are you’ve already talked about your interests, especially if you’re online. Now, it’s time to apply this information to your first date ideas. When finding the perfect date location, it’s important to choose a place that makes connecting easier. For instance, if you both like bowling, set up a date at the local alley. This gives you guys an opportunity to showcase your personality over a fun activity.

If you prefer a more intimate location, you can meet at a coffee shop. This way, you’re still in a safe environment but there’s fewer distractions, so you can get to know each other.

2. Spend enough time talking

Usually when people go on their first date, they spend little to no time talking. They’re either watching a movie in a theater, dancing at a club, or at a concert with loud speakers. By the time the date is over, you may have had a great time, but how much did you get to know each other?

Your subsequent dates can be about having fun, but your first date should involve a conversation. For all you know, you may not even like talking to each other. A conversation on your first date usually determines how well you’ll communicate in the future.

If you met your date on an online dating website, it’s a bit easier to make conversation. Now, it’s time for the real deal. If you want to have a great conversation but you’re a bit socially awkward, there are some ways to find things to talk about.

For one, you can create a list of questions to ask each other. Studies show question lists are one of the easiest ways to get to know someone on a deeper level. In addition to asking engaging questions, a great conversation involves give and take. If your date tells you a story that you can relate to, listen and share a similar story.

In order to have a smooth conversation, you need to keep a clear mind.

Sure, a connection is hard to plan, but you can mentally prepare yourself to keep calm throughout the date. When talking to your date, be confident in what you’re saying. If you don’t know something, have the courage to speak up and ask for some clarification.

Keep in mind, communication involves more than speech. Pay close attention to body language. Body language tells you a lot about how well things are going. Here are some common nonverbal behaviors to look out for.

  • Are you folding your arms? Folded arms are usually a sign of discomfort or lack of interest. If you’re enjoying the conversation, try leaning in a bit to appear fully engaged.

  • If you’re speaking and you realize your date’s arms are crossed or they’re not fully facing you, change the subject. Maybe they’re uncomfortable with the subject matter but don’t want to hurt your feelings.

  • Do you want to let them know you’re interested in what they’re saying? Mirror their behavior. If they take a drink, take a drink. When you have a great attraction to someone, you’re more likely to imitate their behavior.

  • Are you fully facing each other? Studies show that you’re more likely to face the direction you want to go. By facing each other, it shows you’re exactly where you want to be. Also, make eye contact so they know they have your undivided attention.

3. Wear the right outfit

What you wear helps define who you are.

Therefore, you must wear something that makes you look your best and feel confident. Your outfit should also choose an outfit that makes sense for the date. For instance, if you’re going to a nice restaurant, your favorite jeans and t-shirt may need to sit this one out.

Whatever you decide to wear, make sure you’re comfortable. Six inch heels may make your legs look amazing, but are they the best footwear for a moonlit walk in the park? Probably not.

4. Let go of relationship expectations

Remember, this is your first date, so avoid coming on too strong. There’s a big difference between optimism and having relationship expectations. Going in with the intention of making this your life partner adds pressure for both parties. You’re also less likely to make a genuine connection.

On the other hand, many people don’t make it past the first date because they go in with preconceived notions.

Both you and your date are probably nervous about meeting for the first time, so instead of assuming the date will go wrong, go with the flow.

Sometimes, the reason you struggle to meet someone has nothing to do with them. Sure, it’s okay to have preferences, but be aware of when you’re being excessive.

Many people fall victim to letting someone go because they lack one characteristic on their perfect partner list. It can be something as minor as your date having a weird laugh that makes you decide they’re not the one for you.

Every time you do this, you miss an opportunity to meet an otherwise great person. In a healthy relationship, you’re not going to like every detail about your partner. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t right for you. Therefore, make an effort to get to know them before passing superficial judgement.

5. Don’t force yourself to stay on a bad date

Have you ever had a feeling something was wrong and no matter how much you tried ignoring it, it wouldn’t go away? When you ignore these feelings, things usually take a turn for the worst.

There’s nothing wrong with a few first date hiccups, but pay attention to potential red flags. For instance, if your date is rude to wait staff or has a nasty attitude, these are signs that things probably won’t get better. Your first impression is usually the lasting impression, so if someone is rude or unpleasant, it’s likely things will only get worse.

Even if your date isn’t rude, don’t guilt yourself into staying in any situation you’re uncomfortable in. The first date is the perfect time to set healthy boundaries that follow you into subsequent dates.

For example, maybe your date shows their interest physically. If you’re uncomfortable, let them know, especially if they’re not picking up on your nonverbal cues. However, if they don’t stop after you communicate your boundaries, leave immediately.

6. Always be yourself

This is one of the most important tips. People respect and appreciate authenticity, so show up and be true to you. Even if your date doesn’t work out, you’ll feel better knowing you showcased your actual personality. Otherwise, your relationship is bound to fail.

Being yourself teaches you to choose quality over quantity. Say you have a wallet with one hundred dollars. Would you rather have a hundred dollar bill or a hundred singles? This concept applies to making a connection. Sure, more people may like you when you cater to their ideal mate, but being yourself will bring you closer to finding your perfect match.

Going on your first date can be overwhelming at any age. Remember, this is an opportunity to get to know someone, so make an effort to showcase who you truly are. Finding the perfect place, dressing to impress, and having meaningful conversations are great ways to keep your crush interested.

Also, make sure you establish boundaries. If you plan on building a relationship with someone, you need a solid foundation. Following these tips combined with being true to yourself will get you closer to finding the perfect partner.

Photo by Shamim Nakhaei on Unsplash

Tinder Faces Fresh Class Action Lawsuit in Canada

Match Group and Tinder have been accused of age discrimination in a class action lawsuit filed by a Canadian legal firm.

The famous dating site, very popular in the Canadian community, was allegedly charging older customers more for premium memberships, as well as using possibly manipulative techniques to persuade members to upgrade, according to the lawsuit.

legal issues for tinder in canada

For one month of Tinder Gold, Canadian customers aged 29 and under were charged $19.99, while those aged 30 and over were charged twice as much.

Similar legal action was recently taken against the dating app in California. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, however, rejected its August settlement …</!–more–>

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Blued Starts Online Dating Safety Awareness Campaign in India

Blued has launched a new social media awareness campaign to urge individuals to be as safe as possible when dating online .

The campaign is aimed exclusively at the Indian LGBTQ community and includes in-app improvements that emphasize safety. It was sparked by the country’s growing popularity of online dating services, as well as the fact that users were mostly unaware of the dangers.

safety in online dating is essential

Sanyam Sharma, Blued India’s Marketing Director, said in a statement, “We live in a culture that is internet-savvy but not safe, and we wanted to alter that narrative.” We decided to leverage our social media presence to educate users and guarantee that they find love in a safe manner because Blued …

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A Kid Free Relationship Dating App Announces Launch Date

Kindred, the kid-free dating network, has revealed its official launch date. The platform will be accessible on the App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android on February 10, 2022.

Kindred offers to link you to ‘like-minded singles,’ whether you’re child-free by choice, childless by circumstance, or already a parent who doesn’t want any more kids.

Those who sign up for the Kindred waiting list before it starts in their region will receive six months of premium membership for free. no kids is an option in 2022

“We all want to find a partner who’s on the same page about the big issues,” Eleanor Brook-Hatch, Communications Director and co-founder of Kindred, said.

“Many applications …</!–more–>

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How to protect yourself when using online dating sites

Recently, dating online is gaining much popularity, and it has continuously been evolving. In the recent past, hosts of dating websites have cropped up and are consistently dominating the online dating scene.

Currently, due to the coronavirus pandemic we have witnessed a rise in online dating mobile apps, which has created a buzz on how they are transforming the sector with ease of time in getting a match.

With a rise in popularity and use of this service by most singles, there is an increased rise in identity theft and other under cyber-crimes.

Cyber Crime on the rise

Therefore, it’s crucial to practice **safe dating online **by following the tips below.

1. Do thorough background research

As a rule of thumb …

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Best Self-Help Books about Dating

While you seek a mate, even before you date, read, read, & read! 

Today’s dating scene is much more complex and challenging than days gone by!

The world has gotten smaller with technology. In yesteryear, young couples were chaperoned, and the parents were eager to meet their child’s dating interests.

Even in the Victorian Era, young women were protected, and often represented by a dating protocol. This protocol might mean showing up to a date with flowers, gifts, and the best intentions.

Men were often depicted as having to sell their good qualities before a girl could step out the door with them.

books about dating... with a twist

Yes, dating has changed- but it’s not all bad! 

 Dating has become a …

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Trying to Date? Here is How to Go About It 

Humans are described as social beings. Despite each of us having our own diverse and unique personalities, ranging from introverts to extroverts, we all experience the need for one another. This desire drives us to interact with one another, most often leading to dating for young and middle-aged people. However, the diversities in our personalities either make other people very social and able to freely interact with others, while those who are naturally reserved find it very hard to say hi to the person seated next to them.

How to begin to say "hi"

This has led to more reserved people trying out online dating as the initial step to find those they actually like before heading out to meet them in person.

 Be it online …

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The dos and donts when choosing profile photos!

Online dating has become the trend in today’s world, whether you are old or young. The photos for online dating are extremely important. However, choosing the photos for your dating profile is not as easy as you think. According to some reports, about 80% of the reasons why people pass a potential match is thanks to their photos. The followings are the dos and don’ts for online dating photos.

pic a better picture!

The Dating Photos Dos

Show your face

A photo of your full face is a must for the dating photos. Some dating sites don’t even approve your profile unless you have the photo to show your full face. You should make this headshot as the first photo so that your matches know your look from the beginning.

Get …

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5 Tips for a Long Distance Relationship

A great thing about online dating is that it has opened up a literal world of possibilities when it comes to finding the right partner for you. Instead of being limited to people in the surrounding area, you may find someone a few states away that you connect with. That being said, long distance dating does have its own challenges.

Bridging the gap of long distance is hard!

How do you successfully navigate the potential pitfalls of having a long-distance relationship? While these types of partnerships can expose those involved to different challenges than they normally would face while dating, they can be overcome with a commitment by both parties to nurturing their bond in healthy ways.

Below are just a few tips for …

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Dating advice for LGBTQ

Top 5 Dating Advice for LQBTQ that you must know

You know well that relationships are not for fainthearted as they are challenging. Disseminate the love relationship of those around you, and you will realize that it comes with a pack of challenges. It is even worse to us members of the LGBTQ community; we have our own share of setbacks and challenges regarding dating and relationships.

Yeah love is love!

While LGBTQ relationship is not easy, it can be fun and exciting if you follow specific guidelines and advice. Doing so will ensure that your relationship remains successful and positive. Here, we present the top five LGBTQ relationship tips that everyone must know. Read on to learn more.

#1 Be your Self and Date …

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5 Dating Red Flags You Should Never Ignore

Ella couldn’t contain her excitement when she ran into close friend Ariel. “I’ve just begun to browse dating websites,” she enthused, “and I swear, it’s like visiting an ice cream store every time I consider online dating. So many flavors from which to choose, but I’m a little worried that I could wind up picking one that’s filled with nuts!”

arguments

Both women laughed at the joke but Ella admitted that she wasn’t being entirely candid. She was smart enough to know that online dating comes with risks and admitted that it’s always better to uncover character flaws early in a relationship to avoid heartbreak down the road.

Ariel shared 5 dating red flags with Ella, each of which is based on her own bad online dating experiences. …

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