You’ve got your questions down cold, you’re wearing your lucky shirt, and you’ve spent 20 minutes rocking out to your fave son to pump yourself up. But does she like you?
While there may be some more obvious signs as to whether a date is going well (you know, her walking out or just straight up telling you she’s not feeling it), body language can play an important part in signalling how the person sitting across from you is feeling.
To find out more, we spoke to Dr. Lurve, a Dating and Relationships expert and member of the SmileDirectClub Australian Confidence Council.
How can you tell if a person is uncomfortable on a first date?
Usually, their body language would be fidgeting. Most people can’t help but play with things, like peeling labels off a bottle, when they are nervous or uncomfortable – they might also pick their nails, or seemingly never find a comfortable position in their chair.
What signs show they’re relaxing?
Someone that’s relaxed will be giving you plenty of eye contact, as well as having an ‘openness’ to their body language; they won’t have their arms crossed or be hanging off the edge of their seat ready to leave at a moment’s notice! Generally, the biggest takeaway that someone is relaxed is if they smile a lot.
How can I tell if she’s into me?
She’ll be smiling at you for most of the date, even go as far as to brush your arm when you say something funny and give you a cheeky grin. According to research from SmileDirectClub, over 30% of Aussies says a smile is the feature that attracts them most to a person. So, if they’re smiling, it’s a good sign that she’s trying to attract you!
How can I tell when to back off?
Here are ways to tell when someone isn’t into you, and this isn’t the time to keep persevering as they’ve already made up their mind about where the relationship is headed. Don’t feel discouraged though, not all first dates are meant to turn into relationships! The best way to tell when it’s time to back off is if they’re eager to leave or end the date (no dessert, thanks!), or if they’ve been on their phone the whole night – or even get that dreaded fake emergency call.
What do…
Dilated pupils say?
Either you’re in an ill-lit room for your dinner date or your date is really into you – usually dilated pupils are connected to looking at things we like or enjoy, so take that as a good sign if you’re in a well-lit restaurant!
Llip biting say?
Depends on what you want to get out of the first date; lip biting generally means they want more than just a kiss goodnight, but you need to figure out if they just want a casual hook up or if a relationship is on the cards. The same goes for you and what you want. If you both want to go for more than a goodbye kiss, then they’ve given you a good signal – if you want a slow and steady foundation to lay, you might need to keep the lip-biter at bay for the time being. Relationships are a marathon, not a sprint.
What else should I look out for?
One of the biggest indicators if they’re into you is a big smile – research from SmileDirectClub has shown that Aussies believe those that smile at them are warm, welcoming and confident – all fantastic traits of a prospective partner.
