It feels exciting and fresh. The first time I ... I remember well. And the word "first" insinuates that it happened more often after that. It certainly made an impression because you remember.
Yet this is not how singles experience that first date. Awkward introduction, awkward silences, awkward goodbyes, yes, above all, awkward. First Dates shows it beautifully! But you don't want that and, good news: you don't have to! The important rule to keep in mind for this is: Keep it short and sweet. A first date of up to 1 hour is long enough! And this is why:
First encounter
Any first encounter that lasts longer than an hour is a bit unnatural. Also your best friends and most favorite colleagues were people you once met and shook hands with. By first meeting your match briefly you keep it fresh and light and this feeling shines on the other and on you.
Done talking
In the beginning you're usually done talking after an hour. Of course you have the skills to tell nice stories or keep up the conversation, but that doesn't necessarily help you to get to know each other. Being together for over an hour can make it boring and hard and that is a shame.
Fill in
If you exchange a lot of information during a first meeting, you will learn a lot about each other without knowing each other well. It is inevitable that you will fill in the information and form an opinion about it. We all have a well-developed frame of reference and we think we can fill in for someone else how he/she has done or experienced something. While we don't know someone very well yet. And therefore also: by already telling a lot about yourself, someone else will do the same to you.
Stay a bit hungry
If the first acquaintance is very nice, just plan a new meeting quickly! Stay a bit hungry for next time. You will both really enjoy it and it will bring back the fun. Expectations are not really there yet because you have exchanged little information. It was just a nice meeting and you are curious for more.
Keep it easy
When you first met, you haven't experienced anything together. At the most you know some of the same people, but you don't have any common experience yet. By keeping it short the first time and quickly plan a new meeting, you will already have a common experience the next meeting: your first date. It is easier and more relaxed by going back to that experience. What was the weather like then? What were you supposed to do next? What did you think of the place where you were etc.
But how?
Let your date know that you only have an hour for the meeting. Plan the meeting before or after dinner time and keep an eye on the time. Never managed to keep a date within an hour? There is a first time for everything!
