4 Major Turn-Offs to Avoid on Your Next Date

Dating can be both exciting and challenging for someone who’s single. On the one hand, you get to meet someone new who can potentially add happiness to your life. On the other hand, however, dating requires you to open up to a stranger to creating a meaningful relationship.

It’s worth noting that not everyone is comfortable meeting new people or discussing their lives with someone they’re meeting for the first time. That’s why most shy people find going on a date a nerve-wracking experience. Many end up making silly mistakes that risk turning off their date.

In a dating and relationship context, a “turn-off” is an unappealing action that will lead your date or partner to lose interest or desire in you. Someone can get turned off by how you behave, communicate, or act. You might say or do something that makes them feel insecure, embarrassed, annoyed, or have a terrible experience in general.

Whether you’re usually shy around new people or getting back into the groove of things after returning to the dating scene, consider enlisting the help of a dating coach Singapore residents trust to help you prepare for your next date. You can also avoid these four major turn-offs and ensure that you and your companion have an enjoyable time together.

Poor Hygiene

Going on a date with someone who has poor hygiene is almost always an immediate turn-off. Bad breath, unpleasant body odour, and an unkempt appearance are unappealing to a potential partner. More often than not, people will judge others by what they can observe through their senses. If you want to make a good impression and have a successful date, you need to make personal hygiene one of your top priorities.

Shower and change into fresh clothes daily. If you tend to sweat a lot, apply antiperspirant to help manage perspiration and avoid unattractive underarm sweat marks. In addition, if you want to smell fresh and keep body odour at bay, use deodorant. Be sure to practise good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth at least twice every day. It’s also a good idea to bring mints or chewing gum with you on your next date so that your breath stays fresh even after you eat something with strong-smelling ingredients like onions or garlic.

Rude Behaviour

Being disrespectful to the servers, restaurant staff, or anyone else around you will also be a significant turn-off to your date. Regardless of their jobs or backgrounds, be sure to treat everyone you meet with kindness and respect. Keep this in mind even when it seems most difficult to practise, like when you get into an upsetting circumstance.

For example, say the server missed a food request or accidentally spilt drinks on your new clothes. A common reaction would be to lose your cool or to make a rude remark. If you experience something like this, do your best to be understanding and politely talk to them about the next best solution. Even if you aren’t trying to impress your date, they will remember how considerately you treated someone in a testy situation, and it will be easier to win their favour.

Using Your Phone Throughout the Entirety of Your Date

If you’re like most people, you probably rely on your phone for many personal and work functions. You might have also gotten used to checking your phone regularly. While this helps you keep track of important messages and notifications, doing so too frequently can be a major turn-off to your date. Being on your phone all the time while you’re on a date communicates a lack of interest in your companion and your chosen activity. It can also be seen as disrespectful when someone is talking to you and your eyes are focused on your phone’s screen instead of on them.

As such, it’s a good idea to put your phone away or place it on silent mode while on your date. In case you need to attend an important call, be respectful and let your date know about it. When it’s time to take the call,  excuse yourself from the table. Your date will appreciate the gesture, and they’ll also be assured that they’re not competing with your phone for your attention.

Focusing on Yourself

When you’re on a date, it’s natural for your companion to ask about your life and interests to get to know you better. While they may ask you questions, refrain from just focusing on yourself. Instead, engage your date in conversations about themselves too. Make sure the topics don’t just revolve around you. Take the opportunity to ask about their interests and experiences, and listen to what they have to say.

Remember, it’s not just you who wants to have a pleasant date. Your companion would also want to have an enjoyable time, and if they do, they’d be encouraged to see you again.

From the way you present yourself to the way you speak, there are some things you might do that could turn off your date. Some turn-offs vary from person to person and can be attributed to a lack of chemistry. But turn-offs like the ones mentioned above should be avoided, as they have a very high chance of turning the date disastrous for everyone involved.

If you aren’t certain about how to behave during a date, put yourself in the shoes of your companion and consider how you would want to be seen and treated as a person. Hopefully, this principle will guide you as you strive to make your next date a pleasant and memorable one.