What To Do After First Date (3 Actionable Things)

Not all dates are created equal, and a lot of times after the first date you are pretty confident about whether or not this is a relationship you’d want to pursue. But for those who haven’t been out on very many dates, and haven’t found someone they have ever ended up wanting a second date with, the next steps can be a little daunting.

So obviously, if you weren’t into the other person, the date wasn’t enjoyable, and it won’t be hard to not answer or politely decline advances for another outing. But sometimes, it can be questionable if the other person enjoyed the date when you did. 

Reading new people can be hard, and it’s not always going to be obvious from your end if they may want to go out again. Here are some signs that they could be thinking the same way.

Did It Go Well The First Time?

1. It lasted longer than expected

If you guys got lost in time, and what was supposed to be a dinner and drink has turned into a four hour whirlwind of endless conversation and laughter - then that is a good date! 

You guys connected and like each other, and that is a great way to start a relationship. When you are able to get lost in conversation with someone and they make it feel like time is irrelevant, chances are things one of you is going to ask for another. 

2. Conversation flowed throughout the entire date

Was the first date filled with uncomfortable silences? And if it was, was it because you are both shy and awkward, or was it because you just didn’t feel a connection? If this is something you’re not sure about, a good way to find out whether a date number two might be better is your communication after the first date. 

Communication is important, so express that you are shy, and you do like them, you just are shy at the first meeting. However, if the conversation felt forced and there was just no spark, then it’s better to end things where they are before dragging it out into a complicated awkward mess. 

3. You weren’t uncomfortable

Going hand in hand with the previous topic, being and feeling comfortable around someone is a good way to figure out if going out again is a good idea. If you were uncomfortable the entire time on the first date, had the urge to pick up your phone, or just couldn’t wait to get away from the other person chances are there isn’t going to be another one. Which is okay, you don’t want to pursue a relationship with a person you are absolutely uncomfortable around anyway.  

There are a lot of signs that you can tell you had a first date worth continuing on to a second one. 

4. They responded well to the idea of ‘future dates’

Hopefully, your first date went well, and you guys were able to bring up the notion of future plans with each other and it was met with enthusiasm.

If you guys were making plans to see a show or go out to your favorite theatre was mentioned before the first date was over, then you know it’s a good sign, and both of you want to spend more time together.  

What Should You Do Now?

So what are the rules of post-first date etiquette? 

Honestly, this answer depends on the person you ask. Everyone says something different. In my opinion, it’s best not to overthink it. You like each other, you want to hang out, and now may be a good time to start practicing that relationship communication that most people lack.

However, it’s also important to establish healthy boundaries before the second date comes up. You don’t want the other person to know your dirty secret of co-dependency if you have that issue. Nor do you want to come off as someone who is clingy. To get these boundaries clear, there are a few subtle steps you can take, before winding up for date number two. 

1. Text your date within a reasonable amount of time

One mistake a lot of people make end up making is that they feel like they should wait a long period of time before texting after the first date. First and foremost, don’t do this, this is rude. And it sends the wrong message. He or she may feel like you didn’t connect as well as they thought you did and may get the wrong idea.  

There is the obligatory ‘did you get home okay’ after the first date text. But do not be afraid to say in one text towards the end of the evening: “I had a really great time, thank you!” 

But, once again, this is a good time to establish boundaries. Texting after the first date can be a little tricky. Text too soon, you worry about appearing clingy. Text too late, you appear callous and ungrateful. 

So a reasonable amount of time really just depends on you. It may be in the morning when you wake up, or in the afternoon during your lunch break. And if you guys had a routine before the first date with communication, just keep it. It’s just text after a first date, not a marriage proposal. Don’t overthink it! 

2. Continue to build your friendship

Just because you went on a date, doesn’t mean your relationship building has to stop. Find the time to ask the important questions, get to know them on a more personal level. Ask about their family, get to know their favorite food, so on. Use these things you find out as a basis to build and go for your second date. 

If you continue to get to know each other, you may find that you have more in common than you thought. Don’t launch immediately into commitment or make things uncomfortable, but do let them know you are interested in knowing them more than ever.

3. Be open about making plans for a second date

If you never ask, then you will never know. If you’ve dropped hints about going out again and they haven’t seemed to respond, then be straight forward.

There is no taboo about mentioning it, even if you are the female. It’s the 21st century and everyone is responsible for making their intentions and their feelings clear.  If things are lagging on the other person’s side, they may not be sure if you would like to go out again. 

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In Closing...

Do you have a memory of a really great or really terrible first date? Share your first date stories with us, whether they are terrible or fantastic! Are you still with that person today? And be sure to share this article with your friends!