First of all, be yourself. It can be easy to put on a false front for one date, but it will eventually catch up to you and could do harm later. Be honest with your date. This does not mean you have to reveal every secret, and in fact, you probably should not. Discussions about how many children you want to have, how you were treated by your ex-lovers, and controversial topics can wait until later, but be up front and truthful about who you are.

Do not try too hard to impress your date. Compliments and flattery is a good thing and it does not hurt to dress up and take your date to a fancy restaurant. However, there is no need to overdo it. Stay relaxed and do not feel you have to show off. Most dates are happy with their dating partner if they act natural and are not putting too much effort into showing off.

Listening is crucial. Nothing ruins a date faster than one person dominating the conversation and ignoring their date’s input. A date should not resemble a senate filibuster. No matter how great your accomplishments are or how ambitious your future plans are, you will come across as a complete bore if you do not give any attention to what your date has to say.