the wannameet half hour meet..
What are the advantages of meeting for just half an hour?
You can grab half an hour at any time of the day – You don’t need to wait for days or even weeks to find an evening that you are both free. Pick a half hour slot this week. It will do you good to get away from your routine to do something nice.
You know what the dress code is – No need to worry what to wear, and whether you are too dressed up or down. You know where you are going will be relatively casual so save the glad rags for the next date.
Easy to find conversation – If you are getting on well with someone, half an hour will fly by but if not, it may drag. Don’t worry, by the time you have discussed your surroundings, the weather and asked a couple of questions about them, it will be time to go.
It’s inexpensive – it can be an expensive business going out for a whole evening, and a waste of money if you don’t hit it off. A coffee or a quick drink should cost less than a fiver.
Choose the next venue together- After a half hour chat it may become really obvious where to go for your next proper date. It could be that you both have the same favourite restaurant, bar or share the same hobby. Don't worry if not, we have provided some idea's too.
Keep them wanting more – it’s human instinct to always want more of a good thing. Be firm that the meeting should only be half an hour and arrange to go out on a proper ‘date’ next time.
If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter – if, on meeting, you find that you are not interested in each other then that’s fine. After half an hour, just say 'Thank you' and walk away.
It’s a safe meeting place – this is a very important criteria. Most coffee shops and wine bars are busy places, often on the main high street, and there are likely to be lots of people around so you should feel quite secure.
dating tips for shy people
Dating and meeting new people can be scary for most of us. If however you are shy, this experience becomes completely terrifying, bringing you out in a cold sweat just at the thought of it but fear not, here are some tips to help you overcome the desire to climb under the nearest rock and never meet anyone new again!
Come prepared - There are standard questions, (or variation of) that you are likely to be asked on your first date. ‘What do you do for a living?’, ‘Where did you grow up?’, ‘When did you move here?’ Do you have brothers and sister?, and so on. Prepare the answers to these questions in advance and practice in front of the mirror. With practice, the answers will flow easier and the brain lock that has caused you in the past to stammer your responses will become less frequent.
Know your current affairs – We are not expecting you to be up for a political debate but it would help your confidence if you were aware of the headline stories in the news and could pass comment if the topic came up.
Throw it back – As soon as you start struggling with your responses, bat the question back with ‘and how about you?’ You will immediately be off the hook and you can take some deep breathes to compose yourself again.
Listen – Whilst the other person is talking, don’t panic about what you are going to say next, just listen and concentrate on what they are saying. If it’s not a subject that you are know anything about, say something like ‘I’m not familiar with this but it sounds fascinating’ It’s bound to get them talking about it for a bit longer.
Smile – and hold your shoulders back - As a shy person it’s probably going against all your instincts but if you look confident, it will make you feel more confident.
Blushing is attractive – Don’t worry if you blush when you are talking. Its really not unattractive and its likely that the other person hasn’t even noticed. But if you do feel uncomfortable with it try the following
- Relax out of it - the more you tense, the more you will continue to blush.
- Announce it – say something light like, ‘typical, I’m blushing’
- Accept it – Its part of you. If you accept it, it may go away
- Who cares? – If you’re blushing puts them off, they are not worthy of you