How Do I Calm My Nerves Before a Date?

Bethany Heinesh

Written by: Bethany Heinesh

Bethany Heinesh

Bethany has ghost-written hundreds of dating articles in the last 10 years for relationship experts all over the United States.

Edited by: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of journalism experience to ensure DatingAdvice articles have been edited for overall clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The Gwinnett Daily News, and The Gainesville Sun covering lifestyle topics.

Discuss This! Discuss This!
Advertiser Disclosure

Yes, going on a date can be a frightening experience. Feeling anxious, nervous — even nauseous — is completely normal. There are a number of ways to calm your nerves before a date, however, so you can go out feeling your most confident, ready to have a good time.

While I always advocate alcohol in moderation on dates, I also know a little wine can really take the edge off. I’m not talking about swigging back an entire bottle of Pinot Grigio, of course! Having a drink while you’re doing hair and makeup, on the other hand, can really set the mood for a great first date, free from worry and anxiety.

If drinking isn’t your thing, take a hot bath and add lavender oil to the tub, or incorporate some other relaxing flower or herb. Turn the lights off and illuminate the room with scented candles. The heat will relax tense muscles and relieve physical stress, and the aroma of soothing scents will bring a renewed sense of well-being.

Not in the mood for 20 minutes in the tub? Deep breathing, meditation and yoga are always helpful when you need to calm down. Try taking a few deep, deliberate breaths and perform some stretching exercises. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. You will find your center this way and feel more tranquil and serene.

No matter what, remember that the first date jitters never killed anyone, and bad dates only make us stronger.

Advertiser Disclosure

DatingAdvice.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation from many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). DatingAdvice.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.

Our Editorial Review Policy

Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.