Overcoming Shyness on a First Date

First date jitters are a huge challenge for the shy person. Leaving a good first impression on your date can be difficult when your confidence is hidden behind all your anxieties.

Being comfortable in the environment you are in with your date can help ease the burden of being anxious. Try bringing your date at a place you are most comfortable with. Somewhere where you can be in control.

Before your date, do your best to prepare everything but try to remain calm while doing so. To help you out are a few more tips.

Do a little research on your date

Gather some important information about your date. This will help you know what to do and what to talk about. Knowing how to communicate effectively with your date will be a huge benefit for you, especially if you're a shy person.

Start with a subtle approach, like asking what his interests are and what he does for fun. If you're still not confident, you can check his social media accounts to find out what he enjoys doing. You can use this information as part of an icebreaker when you finally meet your date

Practice

This may sound ridiculous, but you can set up up a mock dinner date with a friend and practice the date together. This is good because you are with someone you're comfortable with and if anything goes wrong, your friend can give you feedback on how to correct it.

This is helpful if you've never been in a date before. Make sure your friend knows it's only a mock date. Pick a friend who's willing to help you with this. By doing so, you will get some ideas about what could happen on an actual date.

Try talking to your friend as if he's the guy you're going on a date with. You can use this time to improve your conversations. Do not be intimidated to ask your friend for advice in areas that you need to improve.

Take some time to pamper yourself

Take a trip to the mall and buy yourself a decent outfit. If you're not tight on budget, you can head to a salon and have your hair and nails done. You can even get a facial if you want.

All of these can help boost your confidence since you know you've made an effort to look neat and attractive. Remember: how you present yourself to your date can leave a lasting impression on him. So, be sure to make a good one!

Pick the right venue

When planning for the date, try to pick a place you're both comfortable in. One of the failsafe places to start is in a restaurant with a bar. Grab a few drinks together with your delicious food to lighten the mood. This way, both of you can lighten up and be more open about your personal lives.

Ask each other questions so you get to know each other better. If he asks you out on a second date, it will easier for you to plan it since you already have a good idea of what your date's interests are.

Going out to see a movie is also a good way to get rid of your first-date jitters. You'll have fewer opportunities to talk, and it can save you the trouble of doing something that you might regret if you let your anxieties get the best of you. The positive side of this is that you will definitely have something to talk about after the movie.

Go the extra mile in preparing for your first date, especially if you consider your date as someone you can be in a relationship with. Leaving a positive impression on your first date can help you land a second one. Don't be too anxious and just enjoy the moment!

What other things can a shy person do to get over the first date blues? Share your ideas below!