Dating is a process that some adore and others loathe. You’re getting to know new people, and in the process, you’re picking up some social habits – some good, and others bad. Here are the worst dating habit red flags that you should be aware of.
1. Being overly self-conscious and too self-aware. It’s natural to be nervous when It comes to dating; you’re in a vulnerable position! But try to focus on the positive as opposed to if you’re eating messy, if you think your arms look fat, or if you forgot mints. Chill out, be yourself, and don’t worry about perfection.
2. Saying sorry too much. Don’t apologize for how you eat or anything else! This shows a low sense of self-worth and an inability to set boundaries. Of course, if you bump into someone hard or spill their drink, you can apologize, but pick and choose!
3. Set a plan for your greeting and exit manner. There’s nothing more embarrassing than an unsuccessful handshake-hug-back pat fusion. Stick with one and be decisive to avoid awkwardness. If things go well, a light hug is usually a fine way to say goodbye.
4. Complaining all the time or talking negatively about others. Rather than finding everything that’s wrong with a situation, make a couple of jokes or comments and don’t drag it out. If you do, your cloud of cynicism will taint your experience.
5. Looking around the room too much will make it seem like you’re bored with your date or even looking at someone that you find more attractive. Stay in the moment as much as possible.
6. Going on your phone all the time. Even the most famous influencers need to unplug and connect with the people around them, once in a while. Don’t ditch someone for your newsfeed – start an interesting conversation.
7. Don’t just expect someone to pay the bill. This is 2019, and we’re all equals. No room for outdated, and old fashioned stereotypes about who pays. Always offer to go Dutch or if you’re really a boss, pay for it yourself!
8. Constantly talking about your ex. Bringing it up once or twice is fine if it’s organic, but pay attention to your date’s feelings and don’t have overly dramatic speeches on how you hate your ex or are still hung up on them.
9. Wanting to give up dating or being very disappointed because you don’t have instant, Disney Princess chemistry with them. Let’s be serious – that’s mostly for the movies, and either way, meeting new people is a wonderful way to learn about the world around us, chemists to not.
10. Sticking with someone who is emotionally unavailable and ignoring the nice guys that make real efforts. Seeing a therapist might be the solution to this hard-to-break dating habits. It’s easy to get obsessed with bad boys, but also to miss what’s right under our noses.
11. Getting too serious just a couple of weeks or month in. Always slow it down and remember to get to know each other. You need to travel together, meet each other’s friends and families, and stick it through the tough times to know if you’re actually a good fit. Don’t rush it!
12. Don’t fall too into a “type”. We all think we have them, but often, we’re picking the same negative patterns of aggression, clinginess, or selfishness. Same goes for physical types. Attraction is attraction, but stepping out of the box helps you approach a situation with fresh eyes.
