Should you ask him out? Here’s how to become more daring when dating!

First dates can be awkward , nerve-wracking, exciting, disastrous, wonderful — any number of things. A big part of this distinction is the first impression you each give and how well you and the other person connect. We all know by now that topics like religion, politics, and the like are best to avoid if you want a first encounter to stay positive and light-hearted. It might be obvious, but the easiest way to connect with someone is to get them talking about themselves.

We asked dating expert Marni Battista for her thoughts on what women can do to redress this imbalance if they’re thinking “should I ask him out?” 1st date.

To them, you are either with someone or you are not. We know people our age in relationships. Real relationships! The kind where you do your whites together on laundry day, meet the fam and plan the future. You heard us correctly. Relationships work best when you can live in the moment and let things unfold naturally, without pressure or an agenda. You need to know what your relationship is before figuring out what you want it to become.

You should already know. Most people tend to ask the big relationship question when they know deep down the relationship is more casual than serious. Trust what your spider senses are telling you. In most cases, you know the answer before you ask the question. Once you meet someone you really like, your first instinct may be to lock them down right away, but this eagerness could actually have the reverse effect. If you ask too soon, you may drive the other person away.

Make decisions that are good and right for you.