7 First Date Rules to Follow for Lasting Romance

When it comes to first date rules, it’s all about trying to make a good first impression.

Not because you have anything to prove, but because first dates can make or break a potential relationship.

Dating coaches will tell you what to say, wear, and behave on a first date, in order to snag the man/woman of your dreams, but does it really work?

Here are 7 helpful first date rules to follow for a newly blossomed romance.

Make an effort to be on time

I often struggle with this first rule because if I’m being honest, it takes me a long time to get dressed no matter the occasion.

But especially for a first date.

The reason you want to aim to be on time when meeting someone new is that it expresses to them that you value their time.

Nothing hurts more than getting excited for a night out than realizing that the person your meeting is late.

Put your phone away

In this digital age, it can be difficult to put your phone away in the midst of having a good time.

Taking selfies, sneaking pictures of your food when they walk away to use the restroom.

I get it, you want to capture the moment.

But I’m urging you not to.

Put your phone away, look your date in the eye and really listen to what they have to say.

You may be surprised by how much you’ll learn about them.

Awkwardness is all apart of the dating game

Being a serial dater myself, I understand how awkward it can be to go out with a complete stranger.

Especially if the two of you never held a phone conversation prior to going out.

All first dates are nerve-wracking to some extent. A good way to get over this is by breaking the ice and being yourself.

It can be as simple as giving your date a compliment or sharing details of your day.

It’s all apart of the dating game.

Be upfront about what you are looking for

During first dates, many people will hold off communicating what it is that they’re looking for, but you want to get out of the habit of doing this.

If you’re hoping to find love and they’re looking to just hook up, you need to know early on so you can pursue your other options.

This can be tricky because a lot of people will mimic what it is that you want to fit the situation.

However, this is where time comes in. Take things slowly.

Be honest about your circumstances

Without giving away your entire life story, you want to practice the art of honesty.

Being honest about your circumstances doesn’t mean revealing all of the skeletons in the closet (we all have a few)

Instead, it means letting your date know if there are anythings that may get in the way of continuing to date.

There’s no harm in sharing that you are in between jobs, living with a friend, or raising children, whatever the situation, be honest, and encourage them to do the same.

Avoid judgment

A lot of men and women go wrong when dating by simply judging someone prematurely.

It’s important to stick to your standards, but it’s also important to have an open mind.

Judging is totally normal, but judging to a point where you’re not even giving your date some slack or the benefit of the doubt is not a good move if your looking for love.

Make a lot of eye contact

Your eyes can really let the person know you’re interested or,  bored out of your mind.

If you struggle with making eye contact, let your date know, they may have the same problem.

Giving eye contact is also a great way to share intimacy without taking it there.