Swipe Right Ep. 2: The First Date
I stared at my chin in the mirror for what felt like a century, trying to figure out how to cover the monstrosity of a zit that sat near my lip. I couldn’t help but think, “He won’t like me because of this nasty thing.” I caked on thick concealer until I had to leave, and as soon as I walked out the door, the nerves took over to the point where all thoughts about my zit were erased.
As the night went on, the nerves (and the acne obsession) subsided, and the date went well. There was a second, and even a third. After the night passed, I thought about how I could avoid all of this panicking moving forward, because all of the stress was definitely not worth it. As Cal Poly’s Carrie Bradshaw, I’m here with some tips on how to make the first date much easier.
- Make a motivating, fun playlist
Get into your confident groove by playing your favorite tunes. Blast it in the car, sing along with your roommates and dance it out to help with the date jitters. Personally, I’ll always go for a pre-date dance party.
- Say some affirmations
I know it might sound tacky, but you believe what you say about yourself. Try writing some positive phrases on sticky notes and posting them on your mirror. Read them aloud and see how you feel after.
- Decide on a public place
Your first date with a new person should be in a public place for both safety and comfort. You’ll want to be able to chat and get to know your date, so the movies or concerts aren’t the best options. Of course, save these ones for later! Try out a coffee shop, the beach or an activity like mini-golf or bowling. Pick out something that’s both fun and allows for conversation.
- Have some questions ready
“What’s your favorite color” might be the question that comes to mind, but we can dig deeper than that! My roommate’s favorite questions come from “The 36 Questions That Lead to Love” by The New York Times. Rather than treating it like an awkward interview, try to make the conversation flow with substantial questions.
- The backup plan: the “plans” after the date
Not having any high hopes for the date? A strategy to use in this situation is to tell your date that you have plans about an hour or two after the date starts. If it ends up going well, you can tell them that your plans fell through or you can cancel.
Remember: less stressed is best. You’ll do great, and I have all of the faith in the world for you. If anything, just do it for the plot!
