So you’ve been searching high and low on Tinder and OKCupid, looking for that perfect potential match. Now, at last, you’ve organised a first date. Panic! Will you be what they’re looking for? Will they be what you’re looking for? The stress is suddenly very real, and you’re wondering if you shouldn’t just call off the whole thing and avoid potential embarrassment.

Whoa there, slow down. Going on a first date is certainly not supposed to be a stressful experience. In fact, believe it or not, it is supposed to be fun. Shocking, but true. It turns out that the best way to have an enjoyable, successful first date is to stop thinking about it as a date. Did we just blow your mind?

You’re Not Look For A Marriage Partner

If you’re heading out on a date, keeping in the back of your mind that this is the person you may one day marry; stop. Obviously you’re going to be stressed out, if you look at a first date as the potential road to long term marriage. How silly.

A first date is an opportunity to get to know someone, hang out, have fun, and enjoy yourself. Anyone would be stressed out thinking about a date as the doorway to certain long term commitment. Put such silly thoughts from your mind, and just have fun.

Be Present

On the other hand, being too aloof and distracted is also certainly not desirable. If your date is looking off into the distance, while you play slotscanada.net on your phone, you’re not being especially good company. This person has made time in their lives to meet you, so be present, make some conversation, and learn about them and their lives.

There Are No Rules

We could shout this from the rooftops, so that singles out there learned and stopped being so anxious. There are no set rules! Are you supposed to pay, is your date, are you supposed to split the bill! Oh panic galore! What if you get it wrong?!

Relax. Why don’t you try asking your date if they want to split the bill? In this day and age there really, truly, are no such rules.

If It Isn’t Going Well, So What?

Yes, dates aren’t always going to go well. But, once again; relax. You aren’t going to get on with every person you go on a first date with. But, few dates end in so called disaster. You can at least get out, have a conversation, maybe enjoy a drink and still have fun. If it doesn’t result in a second date, who cares? There are literally millions of other people you can go on romantic dates with.

If you take anything from this article, make it this; the more dates you go on, the more relaxed you will be, and the more fun you will have. Dating is supposed to be about fun, not grabbing onto the first person and announcing marriage.