What To Do If...

Even if you fancy yourself smoother than the lovechild of Casanova and Don Juan, you're bound to run into some situations that leave you feeling lost. There's no way to avoid every uncomfortable or confusing situation you might find yourself in, but with a little practice you can learn to make your dating life as stress-free as possible.

Ever wondered what to do if...?

1) If you're concerned that your date might be married, or dishonest in any other way, trust your instincts. Ask them directly, and watch for signs of guilt or defensiveness. If you still have doubts after speaking with them, go with your gut.

2) If you ask for a phone number or email address, use it. Never ask for contact information if you don't actually plan to get in touch with someone. It's never fair to lead someone on.

3) If you're unsure of what kind of pictures to post on an online dating profile, follow these simple rules:

• Put the drink down. Unless you're only looking for a party-buddy with keg-standing abilities that match your own superhuman talent, limit the number of photos that feature alcoholic beverages.
• It should go without saying, but resist the urge to use photos that are old or aren't really you. it's always a bad idea to create expectations in a date's mind that you can't possibly meet. In fact, some online daters intentionally post photos in which they don't look their best, so that dates are pleasantly surprised when they meet in person.
• Your ex's are out of the picture - so keep them out of your pictures. Photos of you cuddling with former significant others do not belong on your profile. Potential dates will not see a future with you if they think you're stuck in the past.

4) If you're feeling under the weather when you have a date scheduled, politely cancel it. It might feel rude, but trust me - postponing a date is infinitely less rude than spending a date blowing your nose and hacking up balls of phlegm.

5) If you don't know how manage an online love life, follow these quick tips:

• Spend time crafting a profile that's actually good. You can find tons of profile-writing advice on this site, for instance here and here.
• Respond appropriately to rejection. Rejection happens to everyone, so handle it with grace. Don't bombard someone with angry emails because they didn't respond to a message.
• Spend as little time communicating online as possible, once you've made a connection with someone you're interested in. Emails are nice, but phone calls are better. And the longer you communicate with someone remotely, the less likely you are to meet in person.

6) If a date doesn't go as planned, end things respectfully. Thank your date for the nice time and be honest about your feelings, rather than allowing them to think you're still interested or simply disappearing. Burn as few bridges as possible.