Sure, going on a first date may be exciting, but it’s also stressful. Between hoping to make a great impression to wondering if you’ll hit it off, there is much that can worry you. While there are plenty of articles out there about having a great first date, we thought we’d help you manage the unavoidable stress that comes with it.

Here are a few surefire ways to calm down those pre-date jitters:

Dress for confidence

Your friends might urge you to go for that little black dress or other sexy outfit, but use caution. It’s best to wear something that gives you confidence, even if it’s not the sexiest thing in your closet. Trust us, confidence is sexy, and you’ll have one less thing to worry about when date night arrives.

Keep expectations in check

Sure, tales of romance in the movies are fun to watch, but they aren’t realistic. Dreaming up a grand first date puts a lot of pressure on you, and sets you up for disappointment. After all, even a great date can fall short of what you see in movies or read in books. So set realistic exceptions for the evening and focus on enjoying yourself, not comparing the night against a fairy tale.

Prepare conversation starters

Knowing what to talk about is a big stress-point for people in any situation. Add to that the butterflies that come with a first date and you’ve got a real problem. You can avoid this by thinking about some things you enjoy talking about long before the night arrives. Have a few topics ready and make sure they cover a few different subjects.

Do you have any tips proven to take the stress out of first dates? Tell us about it!