First-date hopes are often shattered early on by mistakes women make, whether they meant to or not. You meet a great guy and want to go out on a date with him. You’ve had a lively conversation and were very engaging and open-minded. But for some reason, he doesn’t call you the next day or the day after that. Days or weeks go by, and you find yourself lamenting with your girlfriends, trying to figure out what you did wrong. Again.
Following are six tips that women can follow to avoid some of the most common mistakes made before going out with a guy on a date.
- Be prompt in your replies.
Texting knockout happens when you knock yourself out of the dating ring before you’ve even had the chance to get in. You may have been delaying your responses to his texts because you don’t want to seem desperate. But there’s a fine line between playing hard-to-get and truly being unavailable. He may lose interest if you wait too long to respond to his texts.
- Be interesting.
Some women hint to guys that they need to bring excitement into their lives because their lives are so-o-o boring without them. They may say things like, “I’m tired,” or “I have to go to this family thing, but I don’t want to,” or answer every question with “I dunno, sort of, I guess…” But all that really does is make you look like you’re seeking pity and make you seem boring. Guys are drawn to interesting women. Be interesting! Have interesting plans and interesting friends. Make your life exciting. Don’t rely on a guy to make it exciting for you.
- Confirm your date.
It’s common courtesy for a guy to confirm your date several hours before you’re supposed to meet up. But if he doesn’t confirm, don’t go ballistic or assume that something’s seriously wrong. Instead, simply take the initiative and reach out to him to confirm the date. But if you find out there really wasn’t anything keeping him from confirming with you, it may show that he isn’t all that excited about going out with you.
- Dress appropriately.
Guys like women who dress sexy. But that doesn’t mean you should wear a micro-mini skirt to go ice skating or stiletto heels to a corn maze. Dressing sexy isn’t as important as acting sexy, though. Charm him with your words, not your body. If you wear provocative clothing on your first date, you’re giving him the impression that he might get lucky later that night. If that’s something you’re not interested in on a first date, you should probably err on the side of caution and tone down the wardrobe.
- Tell the truth.
Lying happens a lot, especially when people first meet online. They lie about their age, their profession, their relationship status, and even their gender. The hope is that when they meet the person they’ve been talking to online, all will be forgiven. But you don’t need to lie, and you shouldn’t. If a man isn’t mature enough to accept the real you, you shouldn’t waste your time with him. On the flip side, don’t get too excited about anyone you meet online. They could be lying to you.
- Bring some spare cash.
On a first date, who’s supposed to pay? Some people think that the person who initiated the date should pay. Others believe that the guy should always pay. But most guys appreciate it when a woman offers to pay for her half, and many women prefer to pay their own way. It makes them feel independent and keeps guys from feeling entitled to sex later. So bring along some cash. And if you do offer to pay for your half, be sure to be sincere about it. Don’t slo-o-owly reach into your purse in the hopes that your date will offer to cover it. Also, bring enough to cover an Uber ride home, just in case he picks you up in his car and the date looks like it’s not going to end well.
The notion of confirming the date is crucial. It demonstrates mutual interest and respect. However, if the other person doesn’t confirm, it might be a red flag about their level of interest.
I agree. Confirming plans shows basic respect. If someone can’t even manage that, it may indicate they aren’t genuinely interested or reliable.
It’s interesting that the article discusses the importance of not relying on a guy to make life exciting. This is an excellent reminder that one’s happiness and interests should come from within.
This article provides practical advice for women going on a first date. The emphasis on being prompt with replies and truthful is particularly noteworthy. It highlights the importance of communication and honesty.
The tips mentioned here seem quite reasonable. Dressing appropriately and being interesting are keys to making a good first impression. It’s a good reminder that one should be oneself rather than trying too hard to impress.
I find the suggestion about bringing spare cash to be very prudent. It ensures one has independence and security, which is essential on a first date. It’s good advice for anyone, not just women.