4 Ways to Ensure Your Personal Safety on a First Date

The first date can be filled with much excitement as well as anxiety. You’re nervous going on because you want to make a good first impression. You want to make sure that this is a match, and you want to ensure that things go well for both parties. You probably spend so much time thinking about what you’ll wear and how you’ll look—but there’s one thing that you should worry about more than anything, and that is safety!

If you’re not thinking of how to keep yourself safe when you set out on that first date, then you’re missing a major piece of the puzzle. Though there’s a good chance that you are going to meet a great individual, you simply can’t be sure. You don’t want to leave anything to chance and then end up in a horrible situation. If you play the odds and throw caution to the wind, it could cause you to be in a very dangerous situation. It’s just not worth it! The reality is that thinking of safety first ensures that you get to know each other without the added anxiety of your well being at stake.

So how can you be sure to keep yourself safe on a first date? How can you enjoy yourself and not have to worry about any harm or bad intentions? Though it’s rather unfortunate, in this day and age you must think through safety first—and here we look at some easy but effective ways to do just that. You can enjoy the first date and know that you are protecting yourself if you focus on these tips to promote safety first when you go on that all important first date.

1. Always meet in a very public spot: This is by far the most important rule of thumb when it comes to a successful and safe first date. If you keep it easy and book your first date in a very public spot then you can’t go wrong. Think of options like restaurants, movie theaters, something sports related, a concert, and so on. Don’t go to a secluded spot such as a park later at night, their house, or something too private or outside of your comfort zone. The more public the better because then you have the backdrop of a lot of people and things going on to distract you, and to ensure that you feel safe in this environment. Always go for a very public trusted spot and you set the groundwork for a safe and successful date together.

2. Trust your instinct and if something doesn’t feel right then don’t move forward: Always go with your gut because it is usually trying to tell you something. If everything in you is standing on end telling you that this is not a good situation, then leave. If you have any hesitation leading up to the first date, then don’t go for it. If you get there and instantly feel uncomfortable, then know that your instinct is telling you something that you can’t necessarily put your finger on yet. It’s one thing to have anxiety or feel nervous before the first meeting, but if you get a bad feeling then trust what your gut is telling you and avoid this person.

3. Have a backup plan in place if things go terribly wrong: It may sound cliché but always have a plan in place to ensure that you are safe. Tell friends and family where you are going, and set it up for them to call or text you while you’re gone. Have an excuse in place if for some reason you don’t feel right, and then utilize it. Hopefully it never comes to that, but even if it’s somebody close to you checks for you while you’re gone, try this and see if it works to help you to feel better.

4. Never leave your meeting spot and go somewhere with your date alone: Even if things are going really well, don’t leave your designated spot to go somewhere more private. Sure, this is hard to adhere to this rule, but hold off on the private spot until a later date. You want to remain safe and the best way to do that is to stay in your public spot and ensure that you don’t put yourself in harm’s way. If things go well then you will have plenty of time to enjoy private time, so save it for a later date.