First Date Anxiety: Is Your Date Interested in You?

As 2011 begins, several of you are determined to focus on your New Year's resolution. For many, that resolution is to find your future spouse. Whether it be through friends, through work, or via online dating sites, you will likely find yourself on a number of "first dates" before you find that perfect match. First dates can be agonizing, especially when feelings of interest are not mutual. To relieve yourself of unnecessary wasted "date-time" with a non-match, it is essential that you pick up on the signs. There are many signs that indicate if your date is interested in you. Three of the most popular ones are listed below:

A Light Order

If you are meeting your date at a restaurant around 6 or 7pm and all she wants to order is a glass of water, then brace yourself-her first impression of you is not a good one. By only ordering a glass of water (and not removing her jacket/coat), she is making it clear that she does not want to "get comfortable" and sit back with you for a couple hours while enjoying some wine and munching on some appetizers. True, she may be on a diet, but even the strictest of diets allow for more than a glass of water! Something about you has immediately turned her off and she wants out.

Give and Take

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to determine if your date is interested in you is to analyze the give-and-take of the questions. Are all of the questions being asked by you? Does it even appear that she cares to know anything about you? When you ask her a question about her family, does she follow up her answer with a question about your family? When you ask her a question about her favorite hobbies and movies, does she follow up her answers with a question about your favorite hobbies and movies? If the answer is no, then she is most likely not interested in you. End this interview as soon as possible.

Wandering Eyes:

If she continuously avoids eye contact with you and appears to look more at the surrounding patrons, televisions, and windows, then she is probably waiting to go home. However, if she is keeping up with the conversation and is asking you questions, then perhaps she is just really nervous about the whole "first date" thing and is too afraid to look you in the eyes. Wandering eyes can be a tendency of shy people, as well, so be careful when making your determinations. Shy people are usually easy to identify, though, so there should not be much mystery as to what is going through her mind. If you determine that this eye-wanderer is not shy, then you should hold off on ordering that next drink. If she is shy, then roll with it and work on making her feel more comfortable as the date goes along.