Getting back into the dating game can be tough, especially if you just got out of an LTR. From the very beginning, you’re stuck wondering if you should try to become one of the many online dating success stories, or meet someone “organically” like your parents and grandparents probably did. When you finally do land the all-important first date, you’ll probably spend a lot of time wondering if you’re saying the “right” stuff or if the other person thinks you’re as awkward as you feel. Quite frankly, it’s a miracle that many of us actually end up in serious relationships with all the hassle it takes to get there. But what should you know before you date someone?



Whether you’re gearing up for your first date with someone or preparing to take things to the next level with a person you’ve been seeing for a while, it’s always good to ask yourself what you really want out of this. Maybe you’re looking for your soul mate, or maybe you’re just hoping for a quality fling, but either way, you should always look for someone who is, at the very least, a decent person with whom you’re reasonably compatible. And to do that, you might need to ask them a few questions… or at least do some thorough Facebook stalking.


It’s obviously not necessary to approach your current flame as though they were a job interview candidate, but by the time you’ve hung out a few times, there are some basic things you should know about them before deciding if you want to make things a bit more serious. Since a study by Breakthrough for a Broken Heart author Paul Davis says that it only takes an average of six to eight dates for couples to become “exclusive,” you might want to cover all your bases pretty early on, too. It’s completely up to you to decide what you can tolerate and what constitutes a deal breaker, but no matter what, you should be armed with the information you need to make an informed decision about your love life.
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