We all suffer from those first date nerves. But don't worry, they're not always a bad thing; on the contrary, the great thing about nerves is that they let you know that something is important to you. And being excited and enthusiastic about a first date - even if you're incredibly nervous at the same time - is the first step to making a great connection with another person.
Although nerves aren't necessarily bad for your love life, I do appreciate that they can be a bit annoying, especially if they get the best of your social skills over the course of an evening. So I offer you the two best tips that I know of for overcoming them: Be Yourself and Don't Try Too Hard.

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Be Yourself

Yup, be yourself. That old cliche. Be your glorious, wacky, funny, imperfect self; it's your best feature by far. Where's the point in impressing someone with an act? It'll only disappoint you both in the long run. The dating world is fully of lies and falsehoods, so if you want to do something completely different that will truly impress your date, then... yup, you guessed it... be yourself! And relax. That's it. I know you've heard it a thousand times, and that you probably feel a bit cynical whenever you do, but I promise you that it's the best advice I can possibly give. Let it be your mantra for the evening: just be yourself and relax.  Be yourself and relax. Be yourself. Relax. Get it? Got it? Good.

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Don't Try Too Hard

Don't try too hard to impress your date; it's actually a bit of a turn-off for many people. Don't rehearse conversations over and over in your head, or over-embellish stories about your life, or blather on and on and on in a blind panic. Instead, focus on being a good listener. Stay positive, and focus on shared experiences.

How can you have any shared experiences to talk about on a first date, you ask? Easy - make them happen. Going to a movie is probably the easiest way to do this, and it's something that just about everyone enjoys. There's a reason that cinema dates are a cliche, you know. Try to pick something you'll both enjoy  - or at least something you'll both hate! Anything you can bond over, really. If he hates fantasy, don't make him sit through hours of elves, trolls, or epic battles. If she despises thrillers, don't drag her to the latest Matt Damon flick. Try to find a compromise - Drama is often your best bet. After the movie is over, go for a drink somewhere and have a chat about your favourite bits, least favourite bits, other films you've seen recently and loved/hated... Sounds easy, right? It really is!

Of course, that's not to say that you shouldn't try at all. Check out the rest of the blog for some tips on making a good impression on the first date, and lots of other handy advice!

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How do you feel about first dates? Do they panic you? Fluster you? Or do they bring out the smooth, suave, sweet-talking side of you?

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