How to relax on a date without grabbing a drink? To help our readers cope with dating stress and ease nerves without grabbing a drink, the dating expert at the dating app Flirtini Anastasia Pochotna, shares her tips on how to relax on a date.
Pick a familiar spot
What causes first-date jitters? Uncertainty. You can’t control whether your date will tick every box, but you can control where you go and what you do. Picking a familiar setting will put your mind at ease, eliminating a major cause of pre-date stress.
Prepare a list of talking points
There’s nothing worse than an awkward silence. Having a list of prompts on your phone—whether amusing stories or interesting questions—helps. Knowing you have a backup plan can help you stay calm, feel confident, and get through the date without reaching for your phone.
Chat with a friend beforehand
When anxiety hits, don’t call and cancel. Ring a good friend instead—someone who will hit the right notes and use the right words, helping to take your mind off the nerves and put you in a more positive mood.
Lower your expectations
We treat dating as high-stakes, going into every encounter as if we’ll be alone forever if this one isn’t the one. There are always plenty more fish in the sea, so stop stressing over minor details. If it doesn’t work out, then move on to the next.
Focus on the present
It’s bound to be a disaster if you spend the whole date worrying about the outcome or overthinking every faux pas. Put the negative thoughts to the back of your mind and try to stay focused in the moment, maintaining eye contact and paying attention to the conversation. Let yourself enjoy the experience, and you’ll find the anxiety soon fades.
Joanne, would you like to cover this story? I’m always here for you if you have any questions or need further resources.