If you find yourself still dating in your 30s, take heart. There’s a lot to be said for a first date when you’re old enough not to race out the door for a guy who’s sitting in his car at the curb beeping his horn. Now that you’re older and wiser, here are some tips on how to prepare for a first date in your 30s because, after all, you still might be a teensy bit nervous about going out with a stranger.
Do Your Due Diligence
Look, it’s 2017. There’s no harm in checking up on this person just a little bit before you let him drive you off to who knows where in his car. You don’t need to spend $30 for one of those online background checks—in fact, that would be a little creepy at this stage in your relationship. But a little peek at his social profile can’t hurt. At least you can find out if he routinely posts any randomly violent remarks or seems to be a subversive social deviant who is looking to recruit unknowing women (you) into his quasi-cult. In your 30s, you don’t have your parents making sure you don’t hang with bad people, so it’s all up to you.
Bring Protection
What you do on your first date is up to you and the other consenting adult. But many adults are a lot more sexually free than they were in their teens. After all, you don’t have a high school or college reputation to protect. Since sex is a definitely a possibility between two adults in their 30s, it behooves you to bring along a little protection in that department. You don’t have to use it, but if the need arises spontaneously, you’ll be all set to be in control of what happens in your body.
Tell a Friend
Do you live alone? If so, no one will know if you come home tonight or never. Not to be a worry wart, but go ahead and tell someone—a friend, a co-worker, or a trusted neighbor, that you’re going out on a first date with someone you don’t yet know very well. It’s a good idea to tell someone what your plans are, as far as you know. If you run into trouble, at least you’ll know someone will come looking for you.
Preparing for a first date in your 30s is a lot different than the carefree preparations of your youth, isn’t it? But these cautionary steps just make sense for a professional like you who takes a proactive approach to taking care of yourself. All you have to do now is be yourself and have fun!
