You would think that after you finally drop your date off that all the work would be over. By that point there’s really nothing you can do but continuously run through all the events of the date, remembering how they went and trying to analyze all the things that went on to come to some reasonable conclusion about whether they like you or not. It’s a mind-numbing exercise, and it’s a wonder more people don’t have troubles making it home from dates! The last impression we leave with our dates may be the final moment of the night, but the next impression is how we take the momentum from our great date and use it to help prepare for the next one. That constant process is how you start to build and connect with that other person, and what eventually leads to your budding romance.

Just like any job interview, it’s important to follow up after a date. In the job example, it shows that you’re professional and gracious enough to thank the interviewer for their time and for considering you for the position. In dating, the concept is very similar. It shows that you are considerate enough to let them know you appreciated being able to take them out. It’s those little touches that really separate you from all the others out there. The average person isn’t considerate enough to do that, and when you do it makes you stand out from the crowd. Even if you had a horrible time on your date, it’s a good idea to call. Why would you want to do that? Well, first of all in life you should try to be friendly with people as much as possible. You never know when you might need their help and unnecessarily bringing ill will into your life is childish. Second, people can get off on the wrong foot sometimes. Being a bigger person and recognizing that the date didn’t go as you both planned it is an important part of being a responsible adult. Be open about the date, let them know that you’re sorry it didn’t go that well and hopefully you both can be friends.

Not only is following up the nice thing to do, but it’s also a valid reason to give your date a call the next day. That gives you an extra opportunity to gauge their interest and see if the attraction is mutual. A big mistake that people make is not communicating their interest affectively. If you go on a great date with someone and they don’t call you for the next week, you’re going to think that they just didn’t really connect with you, and maybe they’re just not interested. When in reality, maybe they just didn’t know to call or were too nervous to do so. Don’t let a misunderstanding get in the way of something good in your life. Make sure to follow up and let them know you had a great time if you actually did. Chances are, if the date really went as you expect it, they’ll be anxiously awaiting your call anyway.