Some Great Ways to Deal With First Date Jitters

First dates are extremely exciting and you may feel anxious about this upcoming event. You have every reason to be anxious because spending some quality time with a potential partner should be taken seriously. Everything should be planned before that special night. How you play your cards will determine whether or not a date is worth another try.

Now that you have passed the 'asking for a date' phase, the next thing that you have to be keen on is the first date. For blind dates, this could be extra hard because daters don't have much of an idea about their would-be dates. For most people, however, they already know in advance the appearance, the qualities and traits of the person they would be dating. This is probably the reason they are going out with their dates in the first place—somehow they find something interesting and attractive about this person.

But it's like a battleground out there, because in a date the two of you are enemies testing each other's wit. Just like in a real war, there will be no unity until one conquers another. One good point in Sun Tsu's The Art of War is that it stated that in every battle one has to know thy enemy. And once you become aware of your enemy's strengths and weaknesses, you will be able to use special weapons in your arsenal to defeat them.

While it is true that actions speak louder than words, it doesn't necessarily mean being aggressive. Gentle actions or gestures wouldn't hurt. However, you should never try to test the limit of your date because in most cases you will end up regretting it. It is still best to sway your date with your sincerity coupled with some sense of humor. Don't talk too much, though. Whether you are not talking about anything specific or you are talking about your career, your date may find you boring. If your date is constantly looking at the clock or simply tapping the table with his or her fingers then you need to worry.

It's best not to ask when you will go out again right after your first date. This is especially important if you are a girl because it may give a false impression to the guy. On the other hand, the girl may feel pressured the moment you pop up that question. So if you were a guy, it's safe to ask politely if you can see each other again. The difference between the two questions lies in its certainty—the former seeks for a specific date while the latter only hopes for another possible meeting. If the answer is a 'yes' or 'sure', then most likely you're in for another night out. A 'maybe' is a safe answer. To the guy, it would mean that there is a chance that the two of you will meet again, however slim it may be. For the girls, it means having ample time to think things over while not giving away your true feelings.