As you’ve been able to read, the perfect date is really a combination of a lot of things. If this series has made you more nervous than ever before, just relax. The real key to having a great date is to not be so nervous about it. It’s human nature to be nervous around someone you like or could possibly be romantic with. If you’re able to calm your nerves and act as you do around your friends, chances are you will have more success than if you don’t. When we’re around our friends we’re relaxed and we’re comfortable. This allows us to let our best characteristics shine through, and shows why those people hang around us in the first place. They see the best sides of you, and that’s what you need to concentrate on while dating.

I wish I could tell you that dating is always about your inner beauty, but it’s not. That’s why it’s important to realize the impacts of your first impressions and how it can affect the rest of your date. Once you and your love interest get to know each other better, it becomes less important since they already know you enough to know what you’re about. The problem is that dating is like the first round of a boxing match. You spend most of the time just trying to understand who that other person is. Unfortunately part of our impressions are based on physical appearance. It’s not the be all end all, but you have to at least look like you’re making an attempt to be presentable to even have a chance at wowing them with your personality. Just like anything, it’s a part of the process that you just have to deal with sometimes.

While the task may seem daunting now that we’ve broken it down, use it as a guide to be more prepared than ever before. Being prepared can give you a level of comfort that makes it easier to relax. There may be things in this series that you didn’t realize about dates or how they are perceived by that other person. It’s important to understand how your actions affect other people’s perception of you. That is what dating is all about isn’t it? Finding someone that looks at you and sees the same attraction that you do in them. If there is ever a place where perception is reality, it’s in relationships and dating. The emotional aspect is so high that a lot of rationality can go out the window. It’s not math, and the answer doesn’t always make sense. That’s what makes it special.

This list may seem to be counter-productive if all it makes you do is over-analyze everything. When dating you cannot get too down if things don’t go exactly as you expect them to. Rarely, if ever, will your date go just as you’ve envisioned it beforehand. That’s a big reason why you should never plan every minute of your date. A lot of what makes a date special is the spontaneity that happens and creates those moments you tend to remember. Plus, the more planned and “robotic” you are, the less you’ll be yourself. You’ll spend so much time making sure your date is on schedule that you won’t really connect with the other person. It’s important to be prepared only to the extent that you can have an idea at a moments notice in case the date starts to drag or be dull. Otherwise, let the experience take you to where it wants to go and just keep these guidelines in the back of your mind.