Today’s Dating Essentials post comes from Thea Price, founder of lifestyle blog Thea’s Thinkings. Read on to find out why it’s best to think outside the box when it comes to dating…

Everyone likes a dinner date. Low lighting, good food, good company (hopefully!), and an opportunity to look your best – who’d say no to that? But when you look back on your most memorable dates, did it take place in a restaurant? Or was it somewhere more…real?

My favourite dates are one where I really get to know a person. Do we click? Is there chemistry? Could we gel during the day, not just when the lights go down?!

I love daytime dates, because you can actually do something together (other than that!). It’s a chance to test the relationship waters. It doesn’t have to be serious yet, day time dates are perfect for a first date, you’ll get the opportunity to see not only if there’s good conversation but how you interact which is so important!

We all like an opportunity to dress our best and look beautiful or handsome for our date-to-be but the best way to test if someone is really interested in you is to just be yourself. Wear natural make, and more casual clothes. I’m not saying don’t make an effort, but give each other the opportunity to see what ‘real life’ with this person would be like.

So today I want to offer some alternative date ideas. Something that will get you both a bit more active or creative, and hopefully a chance to have a good time!

Location

Try to think outside the box. It doesn’t need to be anything wild or obscure, but maybe think of the places in your area you wouldn’t normally think to go on a first date. Do you live near the country, the sea, a park? It doesn’t have to be outdoors but there are a lot of great opportunities out there, and they won’t cost you a dime!

Dress code

Most of these date ideas, will need a lot more casual dress code, or sometimes even wellies! But whatever you do just make sure you prepare your date in advance. The last thing you want is for your date to turn up in heels or a suit if you’re going to hit the beach!

Activity

You don’t need to think too creatively to come up with a great activity, and it doesn’t have to be over the top physical, you still want time to talk! But think of something that means you get to work together, maybe something that requires a little physical interaction, but most importantly gives you a chance to have fun and laugh together. Knowing a persons sense of humour is a great way of testing how you gel.

Here’s some of my ideas to get you thinking…

For the more adventurous types: 

Indoor rock climbing – This is a great way to relax, learn a new skill or teach other , and if anyone slips you can have a laugh together.
Scrambling – A lot of beaches have great boulders for this sort of thing and you’ll have to give each other support.
Forest/country walking – Try to go off the trails and help each other make your own path. It’s amazing some of the things you can come across. Be sure not to get lost though!
Gorge/river walking – This one is definitely for the more adventurous but I can promise you it’s so much fun!

For the less adventurous or indoors types: 

Crazy golf – I know it’s old school but it’s fun and you can mess around.
Ice cream and paddling on the beach – It’s sweet and simple, you still get the chance to talk but with ice cream and sea water there’s a high chance someone will get messy!
Outdoor or indoor picnicking – You don’t have to go outdoors for a romantic picnic. In fact an indoor picnic can be perfect, for starter it’s warmer, but you can also use other things in the house like music. In fact you could have a make your own sandwich station which can keep things entertaining if you’re creative.
Cooking class – This is a great way to get to know each other, test the chemistry and do something together and you don’t have to be the best cook. You might find it’s more fun if you’re not and laugh while you get it all wrong.
Cook a meal together – If you don’t like the attention of a cooking class, or you don’t know of any in your area you can recreate the whole thing at home. All you need is a recipe chosen at random, probably an oven, and some elbow grease and you’ll find cooking together can be a lot of fun.
Bowling – I know it’s cliche but don’t underestimate the power of the bowling alley! Bowling can be a lot of fun. You can mess around, help each other out and even have some friendly competition, which can be great for chemistry. Don’t be too competitive though, you want them to like you!

If you choose a fun activity if can be a great conversation starter which is perfect for a first date, and if you’re nervous well the activity will be a distraction so there’s less pressure, just relax and enjoy it!

You’ll get the chance to really see what your date is like on a day-to-day basis and you’ll have fun!

Doing an interactive activity is a great chance for a little physical contact. Hold there hand to help them balance, or pick them up if they fall. Those little gestures can really make sparks fly.

You’ll get to see the real person behind the suit, the dress, the hair or the makeup. Day time activities especially active ones give you a chance to see the person beyond the hair and makeup and if you’d normally be wearing the makeup, you’ll be able to relax and lose those worries about “does he like me for my looks”, because he probably still does but you know for sure he likes the rest of your too, even your wellies.

My favourite date memory was a trip to the beach. It turned out the weather was AWFUL! It rained, the wind kept blowing my hair all over the place, but we didn’t give up. We went climbing over the boulders, ate our sandy sandwiches, and went rock pooling.

In the grand scheme of things one might think it was the worst date ever! My hair was all over the place, the sandwiches were a meal disaster, tragically we both fell in (embarrassing!) and had the battle scars to prove it! But we got the chance to help each other up, lift each other over rocks, support each other on slippy stones, and laugh a lot. Most importantly, we got to know each other. We saw a glimpse of how much we’d enjoy spending time together and the chemistry was amazing! All in all it was the best date I’ve ever had!

So next time you’re planning a date maybe thing of something a little different to that fancy Restaurant on the corner and do something a little more adventurous and a lot more fun!

I hope these tips have given you some inspiration and you have a great time. My fingers are crossed!

To read more from Thea, check out her blog Thea’s Thinkings here (and don’t forget to follow her on Twitter!)

Until next time, 

The Just Singles Team.

About the author…

Thea is a psychology graduate with a lot of ideas and not enough time to do them all! She’s passionate about life and making the most of things. Every day is a chance to improve on yesterday. Thea’s Thinkings is a blog about food, fun, life and pretty much anything else that floats her boat!