Maybe you just got over a breakup, and are ready to enter the dating pool again. Maybe you have been loving the single life for a while now, and want to give mixing and mingling a shot. Or maybe you have never dated before, and just want some advice on how to embark on unfamiliar waters. Regardless of your reasons for entering the dating scene, there are some cardinal rules of politeness that guarantee success no matter who you are.
1. DO Make Your Date Your Priority
If you ask someone out on a date, or if you accept someone’s offer to go on a date, they are your number one priority the whole time you are together. That may seem obvious, but to many it’s not. You might be doubling with your best friend, and so it’s easier to focus your attention on her than your date you don’t know very well. Or maybe you are itching to text your roommate to remember to buy more milk because it’ll only take a second right? Maybe…but it can wait. Treat your date like they are your first priority. Even if you end up not having one ounce of romantic chemistry with the person, at least you’ll know what you’re giving up because you actually focused on them.
2. DO Respect Them
Whether it’s your first date or your fiftieth date, respect your date. If you’re a man, be chivalrous and hold open the door not just on the first date, but always. As a woman, respect a chivalrous man! And especially respect each other’s boundaries. If your date isn’t comfortable with something you do, then stop. Go into the date without expectations beyond the person’s company. Hook-up culture usually results in one-night stands and relationships that fizzle before they even begin. It may seem a little old-fashioned, but by focusing on the person instead of what you can get from them will make for a successful date that could lead to a successful relationship.
3. DO Ask Questions
When someone asks you a question out of genuine interest…it’s so refreshing. People are naturally self-centered. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s a fact. We typically focus on our tuition costs, our anatomy midterms, and the party we’re going to this Friday. Shifting your attention and energy to someone else will always be attractive because it’s so rare to find someone that can effectively communicate about a topic that doesn’t involve themselves. Look your date in the eye, ask them questions you care to know the answer to, and watch the magic happen.
4. DO Show Appreciation
Whether your date is paying to take you to the upscale Italian restaurant in the city, or on a hike in the mountains – show appreciation! They took time to plan an event with you, and they did not have to! College students are tight on money and time, and so appreciation is a must! Even if you went on the date to be nice, or because your friend set you up – gratitude brings good karma, and good vibes every time.
Dating isn’t easy…especially in the 21st century. Tinder, Snap Chat, and a myriad of things are game changers. But even though we live in a digital age where everything is constantly being updated, good, old-fashioned manners will never let you down.