Most of what's involved in the dating process is pleasant, fun stuff. You need to be open to new ideas, new people, and new activities. You need to be ready for first kisses (as if anybody dislikes those!), first conversations, and getting to know somebody new. Sounds good right?
But there are also a few less-then-pleasant requirements for dating successfully. At least, they're necessary for most people. These are the things that make it a heck of a lot easier to find and keep a date... and the ones that you might not do if you weren't dating, and didn't care so much about making a good impression.
If you're just starting up with free internet dating, you've got to be ready for the dating world! It's probably time to take on these five necessary, but sometimes unpleasant, tasks:
Maintain your home.
Sure, the perfect person wouldn't care what kind of place you live in. But, hey, most of us aren't perfect, and most of us do care. So while you probably can't pack up and move house just because you've started internet dating, you can --and should-- do a few things to spruce up your home. Now's the time to start keeping it clean and clutter free. Spend a little extra time and money on decorations and some nice mood-setting lighting. And whatever you do, please replace the ratty, rough, and stained old sheets on your bed for something new and inviting. How can you expect to get anybody in it with you otherwise?
If you plan to do any driving with a date, all of this applies to your car, as well. Clean out the load of empty water bottles littering the back seat, scrub off the smear of ketchup decorating the driver's side door, and fix any unsightly cracks and dents if you can.
Maintain your body.
Even more important than what your home or your car looks like is what you look like. Yes, it's true that the most important part of yourself is on the inside. But it's the outside that's going to capture your date's attention. If you're not already, start going to the gym and paying attention to what you eat-- that way, you'll be proud of your body when it comes time to show it off.
You might also want to think about getting a makeover. Guys, this means you, too. Been wearing the same hairstyle since 1995? It's probably time for a change. Tend to neglect your skin and forget about your clogged pores? Maybe it's time to start a skin regimen that'll make you shine for your date in more ways than one.
Get clean.
This is one for the guys more than the girls. Guys, you know this is true: when you don't have to leave your house or interact with the public, you tend to let the whole hygiene thing fall to the wayside. Before you start dating, get used to taking care of yourself. There may just be parts of your body (like behind your ears or between your toes) that you haven't washed very carefully in awhile.
Broaden your horizons.
It's always good to learn new things and expand your horizons. But if you're not forced to, it's probably not something you make a great effort at. If you're starting up with internet dating, though, this is something you should be doing. Get up to date on what's happening in the world. Read the books that everyone's reading, and get a refresher on the classics. Go see movies that your date might mention. Not only will it make you look smarter when the time comes to talk, it will also give you something to say in the first place. And that's always a good thing.
Creating a budget.
Most of us don't have all the money we want to spend on extravagant nights out with our dates. But if you're planning to start dating again, you need to take the time to figure out how it will fit into your budget. While there are plenty of cheap things you can do on a date, you can't have an inexpensive picnic in the park every time you see somebody. It may require a few sacrifices on your part, but you've got make sure you've made room in your budget to buy your date a bucket of popcorn.
Donabel
42 / Female
Comments: 1
Posted on April 3, 2009, 6:04 am
Being prepared to say "Thankyou but no thankyou" I've found this a very unpleasant task. Nobody wants to feel they don't measure up. But when it comes to the nitty gritty...its best to be up front than give false expectations.
Freeneasy
56 / Male
Comments: 1
Posted on April 30, 2009, 10:11 am
Not everybody likes coffee! If you're honest, without hurting their feelings, it not so bad. Better to be truthful than waste their time and yours. If you know it won't work out then you're being dishonest and they'd be even more hurt if you let them think is was working and then said, "Sorry but I can't to this anymore.) Well said, thought I was the only one like that. Nice to see you. Hi ;)
