Does the thought of going on a blind date give you anxiety or nervousness?
A blind date can be stressful because you know very little about the girl you’ll be meeting. You don’t know what she’ll be like or how the date will turn out. At the same time, a blind date can be adventurous as it involves meeting new people and exploring a potential romantic interest. Also, you never know who you might be meeting.
The good news is you don’t have to be anxious because, with the right tips and strategies, you can have a fun and successful blind date. In this article, we’ll break down some blind date tips for guys who want to make a great first impression and have a successful blind date.
Blind Date Tips for Guys
For guys, every step towards a blind date presents a unique set of challenges: from asking a woman out, deciding where to take her, what to talk about, how to act, etc. All these steps are nerve-wracking. But we have some tips to help you get ready for your blind date.
Get involved in the planning
Okay, so you asked a girl out on a date…but you don’t know where to go or what to do…so you ask her to pick a day, time, and place.
In short, you want her to plan your date with her.
While this may seem accommodating (and there’s nothing wrong with that), it may also seem like you want the date served on a plate. You may come off as lazy and unwilling to get involved in the planning.
You might think you’re allowing her to pick a date, time, place, and activity she’s comfortable with. But honestly, it’s more annoying than nice.
Picture this:
Her: Sounds good. What do you have in mind?
You: What do you want to do?
Her: I don’t know. You tell me.
Sounds uncomfortable to even read, right?
Here’s what the plan should look like
You: Hey! I would like to know if you’d like to go out for coffee at Brew Box and then for a walk at MindScape. Say Friday at 3 p.m.?
Her: Oh, that’s great! But I prefer coffee at The Coffee Lab instead. They have better customer service.
You: Sure! Sounds like a plan.
Mutual communication can lead to a successful blind date. Both of you should be free to express preferences and ideas for what you’d like to do. This way, you can plan a date where you’ll both be comfortable and excited to go.
Have a pre-date routine
Is your heart beating fast? Or sweat pooling under your armpits?
We know it’s not sexy, but it’s normal with blind dates.
We also know you wish to remain cool, calm, and collected to make a great first impression. So, what can you do?
Establish a pre-date routine.
A pre-date routine can make you feel more confident and relaxed before leaving for a blind date. Establishing a pre-date routine or ritual can help to ease tension, relieve anxiety, improve mood, and improve performance in a high-pressure situation like this.
Here are a few suggestions for a pre-date routine for guys.
- Choose an outfit before to avoid worrying about that on the day of the date.
- Hit the gym. Exercising causes endorphins to be released in the body, which can make you feel better mentally. Also, if you look good, you feel good.
- Groom yourself: You can shave or trim your beard or get a fresh haircut. Anything to make you feel more confident.
- Practice good hygiene: Brush your teeth, shower, press your clothes, etc.
- Listen to music that uplifts your spirits. Music can put you in a good mood and help you approach the date with a calm and relaxed mind.
- Before you step out of the door, take some time to quiet your mind by meditating or taking a few deep breaths. This can help you calm your nerves and reduce anxiety.
- Give yourself a pep talk. Something like, “listen, man, you’ve got this.”
What should you wear to a blind date?
It is said that a first impression is made within seven seconds. Therefore, your appearance matters. You have to put in more effort than you do on an average date or to drinks with your boys.
If you’re having dilemmas about what to wear, here are some tips to help you make a good first impression:
- Wear something that makes you feel confident.
- Comfort is key.
- Fit is everything
- Wear clean clothes and shoes.
Research your date
It’s not uncommon to meet a catfish on a dating site. So you need to do your homework to avoid getting disappointed wi who shows up.
No, this doesn’t mean that you should stalk the girl or invade her privacy. It’s about finding out if she is who she says she is and determining some of her interests.
How can you do that?
You can simply check her social media. Social media is a goldmine for understanding peoples’ personalities, interests, and behaviors.
Additionally, you can re-read her dating profile. What has she listed as hobbies or interests? Has she included any dealbreakers? Can you tell how many siblings she has?
If you met her through a mutual friend, you could ask them such questions.
This is a great way to arm yourself with talking points during the blind date also. It also shows that you’re really interested in her.
Oh, and one more thing…
If it comes up in conversation, tell her where you got that information from to make her feel more comfortable.
If you’re talking about something you read somewhere about her or asked a friend, let her know where you got the information from. For instance, say, “I read on your profile that you like scuba diving….” Or, “Anna mentioned that you love working out.”
Remember, there’s a thin line between showing interest and being invasive.
Be Punctual
Showing up on time is a plus. Punctuality reflects maturity and respect. Also, it helps relieve tension and set the mood for a blissful date.
Keeping a girl waiting is rude, and it shows that you don’t respect her time. It may also come off as entitlement.
Remember this: Early is on time; on time is late.
What if something comes up?
Sometimes unpredictable or unforeseen events beyond us happen. So if you will be a little late, give her a heads up. Call her in advance or send a quick text saying that you’re running late and explain what’s happening. This is an issue of respect.
Compliment her honestly and sincerely
Women like hearing nice things. They feel good knowing that someone admires something about them.
On the other hand, guys like to play it cool, and they often hide their thoughts and feelings for various reasons, including the perception of masculinity, social conditioning, fear of losing control, etc.
All said, compliments can go a long way.
Complimenting a lady can be a great way to make her feel comfortable and appreciated. It’s also a great way to show confidence and strengthen her perception of you.
As a guy, it might not be easy to dish out compliments, especially if you’re still a bit nervous. Here are some tips to help you give better compliments:
- Give sincere compliments. Please don’t say it if you don’t mean it.
- Give a specific compliment rather than a generic one. For example, “you look beautiful in that red dress” or “you have a beautiful smile.”
- Avoid complimenting her body parts. This might come off as sexual or objectifying. Instead, compliment her character, personality, and style.
- Don’t overdo it. Don’t give way too many compliments because you might make her uncomfortable. Also, you may come off as insecure.
Some examples of great compliments are:
- “You look really lovely tonight.”
- “I’m impressed by your sense of humor.”
- “You have a great sense of style.”
- “You are very thoughtful and kind.”
Keep the conversation flowing
If there’s something that makes a blind date with a girl intimidating is figuring out what to talk about. You want to avoid awkward silences, yet you know very little about the girl you’re on a blind date with.
You’ll probably still be a bit nervous (but want to appear confident to her), but you have to keep the conversation flowing. The truth is, a conversation can make or break a blind date. As a result, you should ask thought-provoking questions to get to know her better and still be able to listen and respond to what she says.
As much as this sounds like a tough nut to crack, you can easily find something to talk about if you both find each other attractive and have enough common interests.
Here are some tips to help you keep a conversation flowing smoothly.
Ask open-ended questions
Avoid yes or no questions and those that can be answered with one word. For example, “Do you like movies?” She can easily say yes or no. Then what?
Open-ended questions can encourage her to share more details about herself. It’s more efficient to ask, “what do you think about movies?” or “how do you feel about movies?” As you can see, this is more efficient because she can express herself.
Talk about yourself
Remember, a date is a two-way conversation. Both of you are trying to get to know each other and determining if there’s a connection. Therefore, it’s important to talk about yourself to help her get to know you a bit more. So talk about your hobbies, interests, and goals in an engaging manner.
Don’t dominate the conversation. Find a balance between sharing your stories and listening to her. Also, only share what you’re comfortable sharing – it’s important to respect your boundaries.
Don’t discuss sensitive topics
Avoid discussing negative or sensitive topics, such as politics, religion, past relationships, marriage, and kids. Instead, focus on positive experiences.
Listen actively
Active listening is a skill; since everyone wants to be heard, but no one wants to listen. It involves giving your date your full attention.
You’ll therefore, be required to use both verbal and nonverbal cues to confirm that you are fully present and understand what she’s saying. This can improve communication and make her feel valued.
Here are some ways you can do it:
- Provide feedback to show that you understand what she’s saying.
- Maintain eye contact.
- Put your phone down.
- Don’t interrupt while she is talking.
- Use silent physical reactions, such as nodding, facial expressions, and hand gestures.
Be yourself
It’s natural for people to want to make a great first impression on a blind date. So, we won’t judge you if you plan on putting your best foot forward by bringing out your best qualities to appear cool and competent.
However, don’t spend the whole time playing it cool or lying to portray a perfect image. Remember, ladies can smell lies from a mile away.
Therefore, let your strengths come off naturally, be your best self, and be true to who you are. For example, if she mentions that she’s into funny guys and your sense of humor is almost non-existent, don’t try to force it or pretend to be funny because the outcome will have the opposite of your desired effect.
But if some of your weaknesses or flaws reveal themselves during the date, acknowledge them. Actually, they can make you more relatable.
Be Respectful
Respect is a big deal because it sets the tone for the rest of the date. Also, it shows maturity.
You should respect that the lady has taken time off her schedule to meet you. Ensure you treat her well throughout the date, even when it is not going well.
- Focus your attention on her, and avoid distractions from your phone.
- Respect her feelings and boundaries.
- Respect her personal space. This means avoiding physical touch.
- Do not force your opinions on her or make the situation uncomfortable.
Treat your date and everyone around you with respect – whether it is the waiter or valet.
Watch your alcohol intake
Blind date jitters are normal, so some people take alcohol before the date to calm their nerves. While alcohol can help you relax and reduce nervousness, it can have some negative effects if not taken in moderation.
First, you should not show up drunk on a blind date (or any date) because it can sabotage your only shot at making a good impression.
If you decide to drink while on a date, watch your alcohol intake because too much can lead to negative outcomes, including embarrassing behavior or impaired judgment.
A blind date calls for alertness. You should be aware of what’s going on around you. So, stay sober or drink moderately.
Final thoughts
Blind dates can be scary, exciting, fun, or dangerous. However, they are necessary since they can help you find someone you are compatible with.
If you’ve tried conventional dating and failed, a blind date is worth a shot; whether you find someone on a dating website or get set up by friends.
With these blind date tips for guys, we hope you’re wiser. Now it’s time to go out there and have a successful date.
