The ominous first date is here. You thought that asking your crush out was going to be the toughest part, and everything would be smooth-sailing after they accepted. But the world doesn’t work like that, does it? The first date is when you have to make an impression, when you have to prove that your crush made the right decision accepting your proposal. The question is, how will you impress them? Choosing the perfect location is a part of it, but everyone knows first dates can get awkward! How to avoid that dreaded Awkward silence? Well, here are some tips.

• Play a Word Game

Being afraid of your date getting awkward is very natural. One of the best ways to combat it is to play a fun game. There are numerous creative word games you can look up, and the date can go without a hitch if you keep it up. You could play 21 questions is you don’t come up with anything else and avoid Awkward Silence while simultaneously getting to know your date.

• Be genuinely interested

If you show interest in who your date really is, and in getting to know them, it takes you miles forward in their eyes. Sure, not everything they say may be interesting, but there are ways to make even the most boring topics interesting. Find common ground, maybe a hobby that interests both of you, and you have a topic to talk about for hours together!

• Ask Questions

Be prepared with some interesting questions to ask your partner. The major part of a first date should be spent getting to know the person, swapping stories and finding common ground. The best way to do this is to ask questions which are not too personal but still help you find out more about them. Remember, don’t make it like an interrogation and just keep asking. Instead, divulge some titbits about yourself during the conversation, too.

• Say a weird word

If you find the silence getting to be too awkward, you could blurt out an obscure word you know the meaning to, and start an interesting, albeit weird conversation with your date. This is not the best way to end awkwardness, but if things get very uncomfortable, sometimes, it may be your only option.

• Embrace the silence

We all hate awkwardness. But maybe the awkward silence doesn’t have to be awkward! If you’re calm and decidedly un-stressed about the awkwardness, it automatically puts your partner at ease, too. After all, “Silence is Golden”, isn’t it?

I started this article by saying “the first date is here”. For those of you for whom this isn’t true, we have a solution: your own personal matchmaker to help you find The One! Head on over to http://matchmaker.lightningspeeddating.com for details about our tailored matchmaking services and the best ways to find a date in this internet-driven world.

– Article written by: Annie Ak, a contributing author for Lightning Speed Dating blog