Three ways to prepare for a first date

Ladies listen up! We all know what an exhausting business dating can be. Being a single female in the modern world is a challenge, and dating is an art.

Today the dating avenues are endless, there’s Internet dating, blind dating, speed-dating and of course the old fashioned ‘meet a guy and go on a date’ dating. But it’s still not easy.

Preparing for dates takes effort, like preparing for a job interview. You must look immaculate without looking like you’ve tried too hard. You must appear confident, be funny, act cute, and pretend you wouldn’t rather be curled up on your sofa with a bottle of wine and a take-away.

But, of course, if you are actively looking for that ever-elusive significant other, the dating show must go on. The trick is to prepare yourself, both mentally and physically, before you go out.

According to the love experts (that should be a real job title), it takes just a few pre-date rituals to ensure the best outcome from the evening, whether that be a secured second date, a goodnight kiss, or maybe even something more…

1. Underwear

Now, when we say it pays to wear nice underwear on a date, we don’t mean because we expect it to be seen by our prospective dates.

Even if you’re certainly not planning any late night ‘coffees’ with your date, ensuring you have on fresh undies straight from the knicker draw will give you an “Energetic sense of freshness and newness,” according to Feng-Shui coach Salvatore Manzi. He believes wearing clean underwear is like wearing a superhero outfit beneath your everyday clothes. Even though no one can see it, it makes you feel powerful and confident from within. Why not scrap the knickers and go with a Spandex catsuit?

2. Have a dance around

Having a 20 minute thrash around to your ’80s classics album (we know you have one) will get your heart pumping and your feel-good hormones flowing so you simply radiate positive energy on your date. With great energy levels, you’re far more likely to be engaging and entertaining and you may even work up a nice rosy glow!

3. Moisturize

As much-loved character Bridget Jones once said: “Being a woman is worse than being a farmer – there is so much harvesting and crop spraying to be done: legs to be waxed, underarms shaved, eyebrows plucked, feet pumiced, skin exfoliated and moisturized…” (the list goes on).

Helen Fielding was right, pre-date rituals are time consuming but, as the president of SHE AfterCare Nina Helms believes, knowing that your skin is clean, soft and smelling lush is a great confident-booster when you’re out.

Once you’re fully scrubbed, wearing your new undies and feeling a little rosy from moon-walking to Jackson 5, you’ll be ready to face your date – and he’d better know just how lucky he is!

Life coaching may be able to help with dating and relationship problems. To find out more, please visit our Relationships page.

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