How do people not get anxious and nervous on first dates?!

[Name234]

Please give me your tips! Been single a good few years now and I want to be dating but the nerves and sense of impending doom before first dates is stopping me!

Because it's your chance to judge them as much as it is theirs to judge you.

Look at it as an enquiry - what might you learn about him/life/yourself/random stuff?

They're a horrible experience!

I got brutal after 5+ years of OLD. I went for ONE drink and had no qualms about leaving if I wasn't feeling it. At the beginning I felt so guilty for leaving but as long as you are polite, that's just the way it is. Invent meeting friends or something if you need to.

Try and book it at a place you actually want to go. If it's a nice place with good vibes you'll have a better time to start with.

See it as YOU vetting him, and not the other way about.

and all the safety precautions- let a friend know, never share your address to be picked up.

I finally met my partner last year and it was crap, but it was worth it.

Go on a few - once you've seen what's out there, you switch to feeling irritated you have to stay for a whole drink before making your excuses to leave after you've both decided within the first 30 seconds of meeting that it's going nowhere.

It’s good to keep in mind OLD is a numbers game and often people kiss a lot of frogs before they meet someone they like.

So it’s good to approach each date with a curious attitude, without expecting it to be make or break.

They are nerve wracking!! I think the only advice I have is to ask many questions and just have a general list in your head! My biggest fear was a) long silences and b) awkward "first moves" Humans naturally love to talk about themselves, so good (non interview style!) questions will ensure lack of awkward silences.

Men don't receive as many compliments as women do -generally speaking- things like appearance/smell/style/personality/good sense of humour type compliments! So if you're into the guy - compliment him!