Reduce First Date Awkwardness

Okay, so you met this great woman. You?ve talked on the phone a few times, conversed in passing, and are ready for that most auspicious occasion, the first date.

You think she is great, and you really want the chance to get to know her a bit better. You meet her at one of your favorite restaurants, and everything starts well.

She looks fantastic, she smells great, and her smile knocks your socks off. But once you are seated, the conversation turns into an awkward pause, and then into an awkward space of time.

You look nervously at her and she looks away, down at her plate, back up to you and gives you a half-hearted smile.

What has happened? The dreaded first date syndrome has you in its grip. But you don?t have to fake a call from your dying mother in order to escape. Take heart, because there are some things you can do to help her feel more comfortable so that you can find out what she is like under all that nervousness.

One of the easiest ways to set a first date at ease is to talk about the first date syndrome. Ask her, ?Could this be any more awkward?? Or some other similar question. Chances are that she will laugh and it will break the ice between you, allowing you to start talking about other things.

Facing the problem instead of ignoring it can really help dispel some of that horrible first date nervous behavior. If getting her to talk is still like pulling teeth, take the attention off of her and focus it on you instead.

Instead of asking her questions she is having a hard time answering, tell her something completely offhand, such as something that happened at work that day, or a funny thing a friend told you or what you bought your mother for her birthday.

By letting her focus on something else besides how badly she is messing up the conversation with you, it gives her a chance to think about something else, and it will probably help her feel much more relaxed.

Another way to get her more relaxed and also show off your great sense of humor is to tell her some kind of embarrassing story about yourself.

Tell her about the time you went bowling with friends and dropped the bowling ball behind you as you drew back your arm to toss it with all of your new college roommates watching.

Women love a man that can laugh at himself, and it also showcases that no one is perfect, least of all you, so she can relax. She might even share a story or two of her own, and you can get some insight into her character, as well.

Ask her a question that is totally out of the blue. When you ask her a question that requires her to give it a little thought, it helps her break out of that first date nervous self-talk.

By having a few of these oddball questions in your conversation bag, you can be sure to find something that will help her relax so you can both have a good time.