a healthy relationship

21st Century Dating Tips That Keep You Safe

Dating should be the channeling of our attraction for one another, meeting takes care of the need for physical excitement and enjoyment, and of course, finding short- and long-term relationship partners. With blind dates romantic meetings with complete strangers for the first time, may pose as a threat to both parties, it’s always better to consider safety precautions before indulging into these activities. Here are a few tips to keep you safe during dating.

The biggest concern is where your date is going to happen. Never invite a complete stranger to your home for a first date or give exact information where you live even if this person is your date. Choose locations where a lot of people are in sight, like a restaurant or an art gallery. This way you don’t need to feel uneasy about the thought of something wrong might happen. If you can set up the date during daylight hours, consider doing so, this will make you comfortable and will let you enjoy the meet.

Conversation is the main course on any date, but avoids giving too much personal information, such as where you work, especially in the first date. It is acceptable being discreet in the beginning, telling your date anything about your work on a need to know basis.

Don’t be talked into something that you are in no way comfortable doing. Take charge of yourself and don’t be deceived. That could mean turning down an offer of anything, for example, coffee at your date’s place at the end of the date. You might be persuaded heavily but always make trust your instincts and make sensible judgments and decisions. There is no need to rush into anything at an early stage.

Always remember to inform a good friend of who you are dating and where you are going. Just to get the doubts out of your head, you can schedule a time for your friend to call and check everything is alright. Always have your mobile phone close to you at all times. Just to make you feel reassured, make a friend wait at you place for your return.

Make your own travel arrangements when setting up a date. Your date might offer to give you a ride home; until you get to know them better, politely refuse and take a public transport, or if you have your own ride, take it by all means. You could also have a friend drive you to your destination and back.

Limit your first date to a specified time. Letting them know that you have other plans that need attending later on in the day will allow for a good “exit” point.

Take it easy on the alcohol. This can go for anytime, but more importantly when your dating someone who was previously a complete stranger, you don’t want to make yourself vulnerable and allow them to take advantage. Drinking too much alcohol could lead to things that you really don’t want. Know your limits and stick to them.

These rules might sound a bit ‘out there,’ but the reality is that you might at one point in your life be introducing yourself to a complete stranger, especially with the popularity of online dating. Following these and other safe dating tips you will be able to enjoy and focus more on dating and not be afraid that someone will take advantage of you.

Dorthy Weatherbush got her best friend to sign up for e-Harmony because she is single and looking to mingle. With www.eharmony.com, she has been able to meet new people and has gone out on lots of interesting dates.