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First date tip - watch your body language! - Hints and tips for first date success

Are you ready to date? Getting yourself back on the dating scene can be hard sometimes

People have been discussing body language for years and it is often a topic sometimes covered in business and sales schools to help people close deals or forge business partnerships, but it's not often thought about in general day to day life. Some simple understanding of body language is very helpful though and could really improve your chances of dating success!

Body language in its simplest form is the description of all non verbal communication that exists between people. As human beings we tend to judge people within the first 10 seconds of meeting them so body language is probably the single most effective way of making a good impression right from the start!

The way you move your arms and legs, the eye contact you make and the facial expressions you wear all send messages to the people around you. Try standing or sitting in a crowded place and watch people whose voices you cannot hear and you'll see what I mean. You'll be able to make an assessment of whether they are happy or sad, angry or bored.

"Your body language is very important when you first meet your new date for the first time"

Your body language is therefore very important when you first meet your new date for the first time. They will be looking to assess you predominantly on you body language (more so if they have chance to watch you approaching and realise who you are!). Thinking about how you present yourself and how you greet and speak to your date will have a much greater impact on your chances of success than thinking solely about what you say to them!

In it's simplest from body language can be broken down into open and closed body language. Open body language makes you appear confident, friendly and welcoming, someone that people want to get to know and talk to. Closed body language on the other hand will make you look nervous or reserved and unfriendly, certainly not someone people will want to get to know.

"keep looking at them whilst you're talking
and when they talk to you"

So when you meet your date for the first time there are some simple rules for you to remember;

Look your date in the eye and maintain eye contact with them regularly throughout the date. This doesn't mean staring at them until they look away which will make you both feel uncomfortable. It just means keep looking at them whilst you're talking and more importantly when they talk to you. If you talk to someone and don’t look them in the eye then subconsciously they may not believe what you are telling them and they may think you appear shifty or untrustworthy.

Keep you body turned towards your date as this will make them feel that you are interested in them and make them feel special. If the situation allows then sit or stand face to face rather than side-by-side as this allows for better eye contact and has more positive impact.

"try and avoid touching your face or ears as
this will demonstrate insecurity or anxiety"

Be aware of your hands and don't clench them or hide then.  Talking openly with your hands is engaging and gives you an air of passion and enthusiasm but don’t do it excessively or if it feels uncomfortable as you will not look natural. Do try and avoid touching your face or ears as this will demonstrate insecurity or anxiety to your date and will probably be a result of your nerves!

Make sure you smile and remain animated when you are talking to your date and when they are talking to you. Recent research has shown that people are strongly drawn to those who smile and a smiling face will win over traditional good looks in terms of perceived attractiveness every time!

If you can adopt a truly open non-verbal communication style you'll be amazed at the results. You'll appear more confident and attractive and find your chances of success will increase – and not just when you’re dating!

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