Things To Do On A Date To Make A Good Impression

1. Try To Win At Listening

Nothing’s better than having someone listen (and actually hear) what you have to say. It’s such a good feeling, in fact, that doing so for your date is basically guaranteed to leave a lasting good impression. People love to know that people want to truly get to know them, listening is how we make real and deep connections, if one has the potential to be there.

2. Make Sure The Conversation Is Balanced

Remember what we said about listing your positive qualities? While you want to pepper those in, you’ll also want to remember to ask your date about themselves. Conversation on a first date needs balance between impressing someone and learning about them, so start asking thought-provoking questions, and get that conversation going.

3. Skip The Doom And Gloom

I know, it’s mighty tempting to get all vent-y on a date — especially if the conversation is dragging. But to make a good impression you have to be careful about complaining too much and coming off negative. You don’t have to whitewash your life, but you can be honest and self-deprecating without plunging into the darkest depths of your soul. If the date works out, and you get a bit more comfy and cozy, then you can start spilling the proverbial beans.

4. Avoid Argument-Inducing Conversation Topics

You don’t have to pretend like politics and religion don’t exist, or act like you haven’t dated anyone before. But these touchy subjects are usually best left avoided in the early days of dating. These are things that can end in disagreement and immediate distancing, or make someone feel like you are not ready to move forward. Bring them up, but bring them up once you know each other better.

5. Keep Dropping Their Name

It’s true that a person’s name is the sweetest sound — to them, anyway. People love hearing their own name, and if you use it, they will feel more engaged. Plus, studies show that using someone’s name shows them that they are important to you (that what you’re saying to him or her wouldn’t apply to just anybody), and so they are more likely to reciprocate by making an effort to get to know you better.” It really is a win-win.

6. Remember To Breathe

If you get nervous on your date and forget to breathe, you’ll likely give off an unattractive deer-in-headights vibe. Not only is this stressful for you, but it’ll probably be the most memorable thing your date takes away from the evening. So do yourself a favour, and remember to breathe. You’ll instantly appear more calm, and thus, more confident.

7. Make Them Feel Special

Ever notice how you don’t remember exactly what your date said, but you do remember how they made you feel? (They made you feel interesting, they made you feel funny, etc.) Well, go ahead and reciprocate by making your date feel special. One surefire way to do this? Being fully present in the moment, and truly listening to them. Concentrating intently on another person makes that person feel special and that is what it means to be charmed.

8. Don’t Play The Typical Games

In a sea of potential dates, you’ll stand out from the mass — and make quite the impression — if you don’t play any games. By this I mean being direct, saying (or asking) for what you want, and resisting the urge to be too coy. That first date is already filled with a ton of ambiguity, so don’t pile more by trying to drop a bunch of subtle hints when a simple question will suffice.

9. Wear Something Eye-Catching

Of course you should show up in whatever makes you feel comfortable, but consider some science when deciding what to wear on your date. It’s tempting to wear something dark and ‘safe’, but research shows men’s impressions are easily affected by the colours we wear. This is the whole “wear red to appear confident” mentality. Give it a try, and see if it makes a memorable impression.

10. Don’t Let Things Bother You

If your date is going terribly wrong, rolling with the punches is the best course of action. Think along the lines of the movie being sold out, or rain flooding out your picnic plans. Not stressing will earn you so many bonus points.

11. Have Yourselves Some Fun

Remember, you guys don’t have to hole up in a cafe or bar and chat quietly. While this can be fun, and is a perfectly acceptable date idea, it’s not the only option out there. If you truly want to make a good impression, then planning a more unique date night might be just the ticket.