Learn What to Talk About on a First Date Like a Pro!
First date jitters—a mix of excitement, nervousness, and uncertainty. Many experience this, especially if they're intent on making a good impression on their date. Symptoms can include overthinking, sweaty palms, and a faster heartbeat.
Unfortunately, daters who are unable to manage these feelings often freeze in front of their dates, not knowing what to do next. And more likely than not, the awkward silence that follows will be the doom of what could have been a fun and meaningful first date.
Everyone has first date jitters, even veteran daters who seem to exude confidence. Even more so for inexperienced people who have little to no social skills. That's because they usually don't know what to talk about on a date, so they freeze up.
That said, knowing what to talk about on a first date can help alleviate the anxiety of that first romantic meeting. Preparing yourself for that important conversation can make or break your connection.
Make Meaningful Conversations
A great conversationalist doesn't talk about random things without context; they talk about things that make sense and have meaning.
To make meaningful conversations with your date, you need to know how to be engaging by learning effective conversation starters, follow-up questions, clarifications, and relatable opinions.
Conversation Starters: As Simple as “How are You?”
Effective conversation starters can lead to different possible outcomes. Even a simple “How are you?” can help you learn more about your date. For example, your date might only say, “I'm good,” and that's about it. Or maybe she'll say something like, “Work's been stressing me out, and my boss rejected my leave.”
Did you see the potential of asking a simple question?
To make the conversation more meaningful, ask your date some light-hearted, open-ended questions to avoid yes-or-no answers or responses with little detail.
Ask her questions such as:
- What's your plan for the upcoming weeks?
- What do you think of the new movie?
- What songs do you have on repeat lately?
It's your first date — you don't need to go all out on the deep questions; keep it light, fun, and engaging.
Let Them Talk About Themselves
Sometimes it's inevitable to space out and have nothing to say, which is normal. It's okay to have nothing to talk about.
Remember, conversations are a two-way street, so let your date do the talking from time to time. After all, most women love sharing their experiences, as well as side gossip about their day.
If you have nothing in mind to talk about, you can ask a relatable question like, “I'm curious about you—what's a day in your life like?” This is where being an active listener will help you secure that connection with your date.
When they're talking, actively listen and ask follow-up questions that are appropriate for the situation. They will appreciate you for asking because it shows that you're following the conversation.
Aside from asking follow-up questions, use their statements as a point to share a similar experience of yours. A similar experience is a great way to weave your point of view and gain more understanding of each other—a great way to segue from one topic to another.
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Knowing what to talk about on a first date, or any date for that matter, can help alleviate anxiety that can make most daters tense up and freeze. Remember that dates are all about getting to know each other. Without meaningful conversations, you can't even begin to build a connection.
If you want to master the art of making great conversations, understand that practice makes perfect, which is why it's helpful to talk to strangers from time to time. Going on dates shouldn't be a chore, but there should also be effort, especially in making conversation.