We make a lot of things harder than they need to be — and that often includes dating. To prove my point, I asked three single guys what they wish women would do differently on dates. Their answers? The most glaringly obvious tips ever. But, their advice is also so simple it’s easy to forget. In fact, I’ve personally forgotten to do all five of their dating dos! So, the next time you’re freaking out about a date, dial it down a bit and keep things easy. How do you do that? Well, it’s really quite simple:
1. Listen Up
We fantasize dating to be fun, but in reality, it often feels like a job interview. There’s the awkward moments of silence, the uncomfortable dry mouth, and the CIA-style questioning that goes on and on!
Jake*, a 30-something who runs his own tutoring company, says he’s been on several interview-style dates, including one where he barely got the chance to speak! “The girl would ask me a question, but then start talking about herself as soon as I got the first sentence out. It was so weird; like she didn’t even want to hear what I had to say.”
Whether you over-share when you’re nervous, or are constantly running through your relationship checklist instead of engaging with your date, you are guilty of not listening! The next time this happens, take a deep breath, look into your date’s eyes, ask him a question, and then listen. Don’t just wait for your turn to talk, but really listen. This is the only way to see if a true connection exists.