First dates are a necessary evil when you’re trying to meet people and have a love life, but they can definitely be the worst. And that was pre-COVID, so now that we’re in a pandemic? It’s a whole new level of awkwardness. We want to get to know our date, but also need to know how seriously they’ve been social distancing and that’s not exactly romantic. So how do we deal? Maria Sullivan, Dating.com’s vice president, and therapist Dr. Melissa Robinson-Brown share tips for handling first date jitters in 2020.
- Try not to start with talk about the pandemic – The point of the first date is to get to know the person in front of you, so you’ll still want to ask about their interests to see if you’re a good fit. And while you’re talking about career, hobbies, and such, you can ask your date’s outlook on the current state of the world to get some insight about the type of person they are.
- Don’t be afraid to talk about how you’re feeling about the pandemic – It’s a heavy topic, but an important one, and understanding their view can help you get to know them better. Finding out their coping skills and how they handle stress can tell you a lot about if you’ll be compatible.
- Be open about your thoughts on social distancing and safety – It may feel like a mood killer, but you guys will need to talk about your approach to the pandemic. If you find out your views on mask wearing, seeing friends or going to indoor restaurants don’t match up, maybe those are deal-breakers for you and you’ll want to cut your losses sooner than later.
- Maybe you just don’t have chemistry – With the way this year has gone, it’s natural to feel a little rusty with small talk, but if the awkward silences continue, it might not just be first date jitters from not socializing in a while. There were lulls in conversations before and they’ll still exist during the pandemic, so you can’t blame that if you run out of things to talk about. Sometimes you just don’t spark a connection and that’s okay, so don’t be afraid to trust your gut and say no to a second date.
Source: Insider