Your date ticks all your boxes.
You don’t call them back.
Don’t beat yourself up over it.
You’re searching for chemistry, not a curriculum vitae.
Maybe throw your expectations out the window.
Do you feel a bond after a few seconds?
You may only need 30 seconds to make a longterm, reliable judgement about a potential partner.
Just ask Sean Horan, assistant professor in communication studies at Texas State University.
However, it’s important to note that first impressions don’t have to leave you completely sure.
You don’t need to be immediately physically attracted to a potential partner either.
Of course, during your first half-minute of getting-to-know-yous, discussing even the weather might be a stretch.
What should you pay attention to?
Eye contact is a good place to start.
You might also try grazing your potential partner’s arm.
Do they make you feel comfortable?
Even if you don’t get butterflies on your first date, think before ruling out a second.
In fact, not feeling an explosion of fireworks might be a good thing.
Take it from clinical psychologist, Dr. Annie Hsueh.
You might want to let Hollywood do Hollywood’s thing.
Start concentrating on other more subtle, but nonetheless telltale, signs of chemistry.
Do you find yourself continuously debating thebest ways to eat strawberries?
Or do your conversations run deeper?
Does the other person push your buttons?
Humor’s important, sure.
Contagious laughter and unintentional smiles when you’re getting to know someone?
Those are all surefire signals that you and your date are compatible (viaBustle).
But your date should also push your buttons, albeit in a good way.
Yes, but what does that mean, exactly?
Challenging means pushing you to be your best self.
Do you secretly want to be the next principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre?
Or maybe you think you might surprise-drop anew album as good a Taylor Swift’s?
Your partner should help push you towards those goals.
