Let’s face it, dating is a very awkward part of life that can make anyone squirm. Even if there is a mutual interest between both parties, there is no guarantee that things will go well. In fact, you probably hear more date horror stories than fairy tales from both men and women. Luckily, there are many things you can do to help remove the awkwardness from your dates. Here is a list of five things you can do to make your dating life more rewarding and less awkward.

1. Date Out Of Compatibility Not Desperation
The first way to make your dates less awkward is to date out of compatibility, not desperation. If you date more out of desperation rather than compatibility, you’re setting yourself up for awkward and unsuccessful dates which are just a waste of time. If you meet a girl and she seems like someone you’d like to date, make sure there is at least some mutual attraction before making a move. This can save you from embarrassing yourself and from going on dates you would probably be better off not going on.

2. Keep Everything Casual And Fun
Instead of taking her out for dinner and a movie, try something more casual and fun. The reason why you should do this is because every girl has already been on a dinner movie date a million times. Plus, dinner movie dates feel too date-ish, which can make her feel awkward and uncomfortable. If you do something more casual like having a picnic, or going for a walk, she’ll feel more at ease and will have an easier time of getting to know you better. In addition to choosing a casual and fun date activity, make sure you keep the mood of the date casual and fun. Flirt with her during the date to make her feel more attractive and at ease.

3. Be Prepared
Be sure to prepare everything in advance so things run smoothly for your date. Know what the weather is going to be like, where you’re going to take her, and how long the whole thing will last. Having everything planned in advance will make things easier for you during the date and will show her you cared enough to put some extra effort into the date.

4. Focus On Getting To Know Her
Too many guys get all bent out of shape over a date because they forget about the main purpose of a date, which is to get to know the other person. Guys too often focus on making a girl their girlfriend or getting in their pants right away which can really mess things up. Instead, you should take things slowly and focus on getting to know her more. This will put less pressure on you and her.

5. Keep It Short
If your date is short, there’s a much lower chance of things getting awkward. Just grabbing a quick bite to eat and walking around an interesting part of town is more than enough time to spend with a girl for a date. If things go well, you can always plan to meet her again later. Doing so will also have her wanting more and looking forward to seeing you again.