The biggest problem people face before going out on a date is nervousness. There are so many things that could go wrong! The first impression is so important, and if we mess that up, it could mean the difference between having a great future with that person or suffering the fate of, ‘we will always be friends.’

From your choice in hairstyle to what shoes you wear on your date, there are so many things to fret about. You never had time to lose those 5 extra pounds; you drank so much coffee to calm your nerves that not your pearly whites aren’t so white; and if you stress eat before a date, you risk embarrassing gas-related incidents.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take while preparing for a date that will quell those jittery nerves and boost your self-confidence so you will be able to present your best self to that special someone. When you are relaxed, your date will undoubtedly feel more relaxed as well. Here are some things you can do to help prepare for your date:

• Yoga — I have a friend who always does half an hour of yoga followed by a relaxing, hot shower before a date. She said that the combination of breathing and stretching makes her feel better physically, and the fact that she is staying in shape boosts her feeling of self-worth.
• Perception — Don’t think of it as ‘I am going on a date.’ You will just get stressed out! Think of it as ‘I am going to dinner (or the movies, or wherever) with a new friend.’ Toning down your perception of the event will help prevent you from being too nervous to enjoy your date’s presence once it is time to go out.

Clothing — Know what to expect on your date and pick out what you will wear in advance. Will you just go to dinner? Perhaps there is a chance of going dancing afterwards? Maybe you’re going to a theme park, movie, concert, or other event? Another thing to consider is the weather. When you are dressed appropriately, you will be more prepared for your date!

• Music — If you are meeting your date somewhere, turn on your favorite music and sing along. It’s a great way to expend nervous energy and keep your mind off your worries. Just make sure that you aren’t so into your singing that you forget to focus on safe driving.
• Practice — When you have a few conversation topics prepared ahead of time, then it could reduce the amount of awkward silence on your date. While it is fine to ask your date questions in order to get to know them better, be careful you don’t ask so many questions that they feel like they are being interrogated.

Grin and Bear It!

The Association for Psychological Science did a study in 2012 that proved that smiling during brief times of stress reduces your body’s physical response. In other words, you feel more relaxed. There is truth to the phrase ‘grin and bear it.’ So as you prepare for your date, smile a lot–and the same goes for during the date. (www.psychologicalscience.org)

Of course, you feel better about smiling if your dental health is in good shape. Your family dentist is one good teeth whitening source if you suffer from dingy teeth. Snacking on crunchy fruits like apples and pears instead of cookies or candy, drinking plenty of water, and developing regular habits about brushing and flossing will also keep your smile bright.

Escaping Bad Dates

Sometimes a date just doesn’t turn out how we expected. Make sure you give you date a fair chance before running in the opposite direction, but if your date just gets more and more awkward as the night goes on and nothing seems to help, it may be in your best interest to make an excuse and leave so you aren’t stuck spending an entire evening being uncomfortable.

The best part about trying to decide how to make an inconspicuous exit when you’re on a date is that you don’t have to rely on friends or family to make a phone call that could conveniently rescue you from a sticky situation. Smartphone apps can do everything from send you a fake text or call you using fake voices and phrasings that help you escape awkward situations. These are especially useful during bad dates!

The Aftermath

If things are going really well, it’s fine to make tentative plans for next time, but don’t plan too far ahead because that could lead to disappointment down the road. Just take things one date at a time without raising your expectations to an unrealistic level. And even if the date doesn’t turn out to be “the one,” perhaps you could wind up with a great new friend who can introduce you to “the one!”

This is a guest post by Becky James-Muth, a woman who enjoys going out on dates–with her husband! Becky uses tips from sites like www.teethwhiteningreviewed.co.uk to keep her teeth white and her breath fresh. After all, just because they’re married doesn’t mean the date can’t end with a kiss goodnight.

Photo by alexey05/Flickr

Giving gifts is a globally accepted way of manifesting different emotions from people to others. A practice that is often expressed in many different ways in different cultures, sometimes it may be casual and other times it is treated with much reverence. For young and old, man, woman, and child, gifts symbolize thoughtfulness and consideration that people enjoy and cherish.

One particular situation you may find yourself in is giving a gift to someone you are either dating or in a relationship with. This is tricky business for some as they don’t know what is appropriate to give or when it is appropriate to give. Relationships have different stages and only you can truly gauge when the best time to purchase something for someone is. Is it really important to know when to give something? Yes, but what is equally important is what you give too. Gifts and their messages can often be misconstrued. Sometimes things mean one thing to someone and something completely different to someone else. Doing a bit of research, paying close attention, and just arming yourself with some common sense, you’ll be able to successfully give a gift to the person you’re dating or in a relationship with. When done correctly, a gift will be met with much appreciation. Have a look at our tips and pointers on what to give and when to give it:

1. Giving flowers is one of the most popular things you can do, but it can also give the wrong idea. For example, the time honored tradition of giving roses on a first date is actually not always met with smiles by modern-day women. Roses, especially red ones, are a symbol of love, and let’s face it–there’s no way love is showing up on your first blind date with anyone. Should you want to show someone you thought of them, were excited at the prospect of meeting up with them, and are looking forward to maybe doing it again, your best bet is a more likeable, less affectionate flower like carnations. In simple pink or yellow, either on their own or bundled with tulips or stargazers, you’re sending the right message on that first blind date.
2. Because gift giving can become a very expensive exercise, choose gifts and dates that actually mean something. Week-verseries are not cause to bring out the credit card, but at the six month mark, it would be nice to do something for your partner that’s a little more tangible. By this time you may have fallen in love and red roses would be fine, but to commemorate it’s always a good idea to acknowledge where the relationship started. What movie did you see on your first date? Why not get it on DVD. Did you have dinner at a particular restaurant? Why not take him there? Gifts don’t always have to be boxed, and remember, thoughts count just as much!

There should also be fairness when it comes to gift giving in that no gender should be excused from giving gifts because they are usually only on the recipient end. Especially when it comes to anniversaries, you must put as much thought in it as you would like your love to!

What do women really want when it comes to men, dating, and relationships? That is perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions by men, single and committed alike, everywhere. Women are often believed to be confusing and difficult, often leaving men standing alone with question marks looming over their heads. No one can tell you what any singular woman wants in a partner or relationship besides that woman, but when it comes to what women are most often attracted to in a man, we now have the advantage of statistics and results from women’s behavior on online dating services.

Check out the following infographic that breaks down what specific attributes women most often seek in a potential male partner, based on women’s searches while online dating.

What Women Want by Free Dating.co.uk

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How do you get through an argument with your partner or spouse? On several occasions, especially in the first few years of our relationship, my fiance and I would realize that we were actively participating in an argument that was going in circles with no resolution while we just became angrier with each other, so we would each retreat to our computers and chat it out. Having to type what we wanted to say to each other in clear and concise sentences seemed to calm us both down, and it was easier for me to abandon my own personal need to have the last word. It’s a terrible personal trait, I know.

While chatting it out online worked to keep my fiance and I calm and able to get our points across, every relationship deals with arguments and misunderstandings differently. Check out the following infographic for 7 tips to stay connected to your partner during an argument and resolve issues in a calm, compassionate manner.

Infographic by A Center for Marriage Counseling and Measured SEM

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