5 ‘TALKING TIPS’ For A First Date (MUST READ FOR SHY PEOPLE)

A successful first date conversation has less to

do with what you say and more with how you say

it. Below are five tips to help you talk your way

to a second date. 

TIP #1: HAVE CONFIDENT BODY LANGUAGE

First dates can be nerve-racking for the sheer

fact that you don’t always know what to expect.

However, there are a few tricks to looking

confident even when you’re quaking in your

heels.

First, maintain eye contact throughout your

conversation (but don’t over-do it; it’s not a

staring contest!) If you feel your voice becoming

shaky, stop for a moment and take a deep breath

before you resume speaking. Also, watch for any

nervous behaviors like tapping your fingers on the table or shaking your foot. Besides

potentially annoying your date, they are dead

giveaways that you’re anxious. When all else

fails, acknowledge the elephant in the room and

admit you are excited to be there, but feeling a

little jittery. (He’s probably nervous too.) 

TIP#2: DON’T BE A CHATTERBOX Sometimes

we get so wrapped up in wanting our date to like

us that we forget that we’re supposed to be

evaluating his potential as well. Counteract this

and avoid talking too much by asking him fun,

insightful questions that will helpfully reveal what he’s passionate about. Some ideas to jump-

start the conversation: Do you have any siblings?

How about pets? Where has been your favorite

place to travel to? Have you read any good

books or seen any films recently? Don’t forget to

follow-up on what he’s saying if anything in particular catches your interest.

 TIP #3: KEEP YOUR ANSWERS CONCISE AND

UPBEAT On a first date, you don’t want to be

guilty of TMI. You both are just getting to know

one another, so it’s best to accentuate the

positive, as the saying goes. For example, if

you’re currently unemployed (which is understandable in this grim economy) and he

asks you what you do for a living, just mention

that you’re currently between jobs and looking.

Don’t go on and on about what a jerk your

former boss was and how unfair it was that they

laid you off. You risk turning him off and giving him the impression that you’re a high-drama

person, even if you’re not. 

TIP #4: BE PREPARED Besides, waxing your

legs and teasing your hair, brushing up on

current events, both nationally and in your

community, can come in handy on a first date,

especially if the conversation should slow at

some point. Even if you’re not a news buff, skimming a newspaper or taking a quick scroll

through cnn.com should suffice, as men love to

explain things anyway. Avoid sensitive subjects

such as politics and religion, however. 

TIP #5: KEEP THE DATE SHORT At this point,

you should be well on your way to becoming an

expert on at dating small talk however, even

when you’re feeling major sparks, resist the

temptation to do a marathon date or talk to each

other all night long. It’s always best to leave them wanting more, so be sure to save

something to chat about on the second date.