The new year is upon us, and if one of your resolutions was to go on more dates, maybe you’re wondering how to get started. Let’s assume there’s someone you already have your eye on. Now what? Here are five date ideas for the new year.
The join-me-and-my-friends date. This can be the perfect way to get to know a girl (or guy) in a comfortable setting. Just before I began dating my husband, Kevin, he invited me to a game night with some of his friends. In the get-to-know-you phase of a relationship, inviting the person you’re interested in to be part of your group of friends can be a great way to spend time together without the pressure.
The favorite activity date. Have you met someone who enjoys the same activity you do? Invite the person to join you. One of my friends likes to mountain bike. When he learned Maria, a friendly girl he met at church, shared his interest, he asked her to join him on a ride. Doing something they both enjoyed provided the perfect atmosphere to get to know each other. They soon discovered other things they had in common, and two years later they’re married with a baby.
The special event date. Special events provide a great opportunity to spend time with that person you’ve had your eye on. One guy I know first began dating his now-wife after he invited her to a special military dinner. Before the event he had known her as just a nice girl who had attended his brother’s high school, but that event began the romance that led to marriage.
The this-is-definitely-a-date date. The three previously mentioned dates are good starter dates. However, once your intentions could become unclear to the person you’re showing interest in, you should initiate a date or conversation that leaves her in no doubt of your affections. After the join-me-and-my-friends date, Kevin invited me to go hiking (favorite activity date). But when he picked me up, he brought me flowers. Though the date itself could have been viewed as a friend thing, the flowers gave away the fact that it was not. Kevin’s boldness impressed me. Yes, showing up at my door with flowers was a risk, but he knew my response would either propel the relationship forward or end it before it entered the buddy zone.
The classic date. I’m going to talk to the guys for a minute. In a day of grand gestures such as the “promposals” guys can feel like they have to come up with the latest and greatest date idea. Most women I know love a simple dinner or movie date. If you want to ask a woman out, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. A simple option can take the pressure off and set you up for easy conversation.
I hope these five ideas provide some inspiration for jump-starting your dating life. With a little courage and intentionality, one of them might be just the thing you need to make your move. Who knows? This year may be the year you go on your last first date.
