5 Things You Should NEVER Do Before Going on a First Date

Ah, first dates.

They always start out so promising, until you start to panic and try way too hard to put your best foot forward.

To help you set yourself up for a successful encounter, we're revealing five things you should never do before a first date. Scroll below to find out what they are.

1. Don't Stalk Your Date on Social Media

We all do this, but it's so bad. Of course you want to know a little bit about the person you're meeting up with, so you turn to social media, but this just takes you down a deep, dark rabbit hole of their life and leaves you feeling like you know them already. The problem? Exactly that. You convince yourself you know all there is to know about them and believe you'll be the perfect pair before you get to know them IRL. Newsflash: Not everyone is exactly like the person they portray themselves to be on social media.

That being said, it's totally fine to scroll through their Insta for a hot minute, but that's it. Don't get too caught up, because you can use your entire date to actually get to know them, rather than doing it through a screen.

(Ingrid Goes West via Neon)

 

2. Don't Come Up With Topics to Talk About

First dates are always nerve-racking, which is why we often tend to over-prepare—especially when it comes to what you should talk about with your date. Chances are you'll want to come up with a list of topics to bring up, but we strongly advise against this. Just let the conversation go where it goes and don't try to force anything. It'll feel so unnatural if you switch from topic to topic to keep the convo going. Plus, you don't want your date to feel like they're being grilled.

 

3. Don't Test Out a New Look

You want to look your very best on a first date because first impressions are always important. This causes many of us to believe we need to switch up our look and opt for something we normally wouldn't try. Don't. Do. It. It's very likely your hair or makeup won't turn out how you expected, and you'll have wasted a bunch of time getting ready only for it to end in disaster. When in doubt, go with what you know. Do your hair and makeup the way you normally would and dress in something you feel comfortable wearing. We're not saying you should show up barefaced in sweatpants and a hoodie, but just keep it rather simple. It'll give you an extra boost of confidence if you do, and your date is sure to notice.

(Bad Hair Day via Disney Channel)

 

4. Don't Eat Anything Stinky

This is pretty obvious, but don't eat or drink anything with a pungent smell before you head off to meet your date. It'll make for a truly awkward situation and your date will be put off by the strong aroma coming from your body.

That reminds us—don't forget to put on deodorant and spritz yourself with an extra bit of perfume no matter what. No one wants to smell bad on a first date.

 

5. Don't Set Your Expectations Too High

At the end of the day, this is just a date. Don't go into it expecting to meet the love of your love, because that's not how these things work. Simply focus on getting to know the person a bit better and be open to letting whatever happens happen. If you don't feel a connection, don't set up another date with them. Let them know that you weren't feeling it and call it a night. Chances are if you weren't into them, they probably weren't into you. No harm, no foul. You may not gain an S.O. from the experience, but you could potentially become friends with them.

(Riverdale via The CW)

 

Speaking of first dates, if yours isn't going all that well, HERE are a few solid excuses you can use to leave early.