You’re swiping through your dating apps and feel a rush of excitement when you get a match. And, it seems promising! Your match can carry a conversation, has a job and doesn’t live in their parents’ basement. You may be eager to set up the first date, but don’t make plans to meet at your favorite coffee shop just yet. Instead, take these precautions to make sure the first meeting with your new flame doesn’t go up in smoke.
Before you meet …
- Do your digging.
What’s one of the easiest ways to know if your new person is the real deal? Research. Look at their social media accounts or search Google. If their profile and online presence checks out, pay close attention to who they follow and what they post. If you see anything that makes you uneasy, don’t be afraid to hit the unmatch button. - Take time to talk.
A few minutes’ worth of texting isn’t enough to determine whether you should trade in your ice cream and Netflix for a night out. Talk to your date for a few days before you meet to make sure your match is worth a meetup. - Avoid a mismatch.
It’s a couple of days before your date. You should be excited, but the conversation has fizzled. If you aren’t feeling it anymore, don’t be afraid to say so. Tell your match it was nice chatting with them, but you prefer to go your separate ways. Honesty is always the best policy, and you avoid wasting their time — and your own!
When you meet …
- Save those screenshots.
It’s normal to tell a friend about a date you’re looking forward to and, in this case, even necessary. On the day of your date, send someone you trust a photo of your date, their name and where you’re going. It’s an easy way to let your friends know where you’ll be without the need for a chaperone. - Meet somewhere safe.
If your date offers to pick you up and take you to your pre-determined spot, politely decline the offer. As nice as they may seem, driving yourself to the first date is the safer way. And it gives you a getaway car if your love story turns into a horror story. - Know your exit strategy.
Maybe your conversation with your date isn’t going well or you just have a bad gut feeling. Whatever the reason, sometimes the end of the date can’t come soon enough. Prepare for the worst outcome and have an early exit strategy ready to go ahead of time.
