Determining Date Length
- Monday, June 04 2012 @ 09:36 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 1,310
Let’s say you’ve been emailing with someone for awhile, and you’re finally ready to have a first date! It’s scheduled on a day when neither of you have work, so it could be at any time of the day, for any length of time. The sky’s the limit! So where do you draw the line? If a date is too short, you might feel like you haven’t had time to properly get to know one another or determine if you have chemistry; too long, though, and you might get tired, creating awkwardness where there doesn’t need to be any. What to do?
As always, remember that you’re not the only one making all the decisions; talk to your potential match and see if they have any ideas. Some people just have less energy than others, and for them, one or two hours is all they feel up for. Others would happily go on a date all day long. Your potential match might not have outright preferences, but their suggestions might be more revealing than they consciously realize.
For most couples, a good date lasts about three hours. However, remember to consider what you’re actually doing on the date. If you’re sitting around chatting at a coffee shop, you could probably cut it a little shorter, particularly if you’re just getting a “polite” vibe and not really connecting. An “activity” date - going to a fair, for example - can last longer, because you’re spending extra time taking in the rides and games in addition to getting to know each other.
Also remember to consider potential extra time when you’re scheduling the date. For example, if you’re looking at a date on a weeknight, and you both have work in the morning, you might want to spend extra time talking - but you’re simply too tired.
Perhaps the most important thing to worry about is that a date doesn’t drag on unnecessarily if there’s no connection. After all, if there is chemistry, it doesn’t matter how short or long the date is - you’ll be left wanting more. We only tend to notice the length of a date when we’re waiting for it to end! So remember, if it goes well, the length of time doesn’t matter too much - there will be time for more in the future.
As always, remember that you’re not the only one making all the decisions; talk to your potential match and see if they have any ideas. Some people just have less energy than others, and for them, one or two hours is all they feel up for. Others would happily go on a date all day long. Your potential match might not have outright preferences, but their suggestions might be more revealing than they consciously realize.
For most couples, a good date lasts about three hours. However, remember to consider what you’re actually doing on the date. If you’re sitting around chatting at a coffee shop, you could probably cut it a little shorter, particularly if you’re just getting a “polite” vibe and not really connecting. An “activity” date - going to a fair, for example - can last longer, because you’re spending extra time taking in the rides and games in addition to getting to know each other.
Also remember to consider potential extra time when you’re scheduling the date. For example, if you’re looking at a date on a weeknight, and you both have work in the morning, you might want to spend extra time talking - but you’re simply too tired.
Perhaps the most important thing to worry about is that a date doesn’t drag on unnecessarily if there’s no connection. After all, if there is chemistry, it doesn’t matter how short or long the date is - you’ll be left wanting more. We only tend to notice the length of a date when we’re waiting for it to end! So remember, if it goes well, the length of time doesn’t matter too much - there will be time for more in the future.
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