by Leigh Goessl

Created on: May 06, 2009   Last Updated: June 22, 2009

Going on a first date often carries a degree of uncertainty, nervousness and anxiety. On the days leading up to the big event most people ask themselves questions. What to wear? Where to go? How to get there? There is an assortment of queries people often run through their minds before a first date.

With all these decisions to make about a first date, one of the biggest questions many people ask themselves is what they should talk about with this new person. This is especially true if the people going out on the date do not know one another well and one, or both people, hope to impress.

A first date is a great way to get to know someone you're interested in. More often than not these kinds of dates are casual and not full of heavy duty romancing. This means there's likely to be a higher degree of emphasis on conversation. Conversation should be a two way street, and neither one of you should dominate the conversation, but instead take turns sharing.

Here are some tips about what kinds of things to talk about and topics you should try and stray away from on your first date:

*Personal Life

Depending on what your comfort level is discussing your personal life you might be wondering whether or not you should keep your personal life off-limits on the first date. How much you share will probably vary depending on first impressions, body language and gut instincts.

The best approach is to take a balanced one. If you really like your date, you may want to share enough about yourself so your date can get to know you better, but this doesn't mean you should bare all. If you don't know your date well, safety may be an issue if you share too much; in this case it might be best to stick to more generic topics.

*Light-hearted topics

Keeping conversation neutral and light-hearted is always a safe bet. You don't need to solve the world's problems or argue over politics on an initial date.

Chances are any talk of politics on a first date could end in disaster. You may want to consider waiting until you know one another better before broaching these kinds of topics.

*Family and friends

Talking about family and friends is usually a good direction to take the conversation. You can share anecdotes or other relevant information with one another. This is neutral and can be fun because you can learn about one another's upbringing or background.

A thought to consider is if you are going through some familial difficulties, your first date may not be the ideal time to air

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>