If you fear the dreaded awkward silence on a date, you’re not alone. While you don’t have to fill every second of a date with conversation, it’s good to have a few topics up your sleeve to keep the conversation going. On a date with your crush, reach for topics that keep things fun and light while also allowing you to learn more about them. The following subjects can offer up some fun things to talk about with your crush that can improve your chances of enjoying your date and help you form a deeper connection.
- Astrology Conversations about astrology can be a lot of fun, especially on a date. Whether or not you believe in it, the astrological school of thought posits that when people are born can affect their personalities. So this can be a fun way to get to know more about your date’s personality. It’s likely that they’ve heard about the stereotypes surrounding their star sign, so that’s a good place to start the conversation. If they’re an Aries, ask them if they’re a bit hot-headed. Or if they’re a Virgo, are they really a perfectionist?
- Food Who doesn’t love talking about food? While some people count food conversations as small talk, the truth is food is a passionate topic for many people. It’s not just about literal food, but about everything that surrounds it too: food traditions, good and bad food memories, favorite foods and most hated foods, and why. Food can also result in a heated debate (people who like pineapple on pizza often inspire the most hostility). Talking about food can also give you an idea of where you might like to go on your next date. This is one of the most fun things to talk about with your crush (or anyone, to be honest).
- Travel Travel is the kind of topic that can go on for hours. There’s so much to discuss, from where you’ve been to where you’d like to go. If you’re both filled with wanderlust, you can share tips and trade stories. Retell the funniest travel memories. Talking about travel can also help you get to know the person. You’ll get an idea about whether they’re adventurous, spontaneous, or organized, and much more.
- Mutual friends It’s always fun to talk about mutual friends, if you’ve got them. If you live in a smaller town, chances are you will have friends in common. This is a good one because it can build a sense of familiarity. Sometimes, dating someone brand new (even if you’re crushing on them) is super daunting. Knowing that they know some of the people that you know can put you at ease.
- Life goals You will find out a lot about a person by asking about their biggest dreams. Granted, not everyone will be comfortable enough to open up about this on a date, since some people feel ashamed of their dreams. But if you both are comfortable talking about it, you’ll learn what your date values in life, where their talents lie, and what you can expect their life to look like in the future.
- Movies and television shows If you’re looking for fun things to talk about with your crush, this is a good place to start. Movies and TV can be divisive, so this is a good topic if you’re up for a little debate. Again, what entertainment your date consumes can reveal lots about their personality. You’re also likely to light up while talking about your favorite shows and movies, and passion is attractive!
- Work. Work might not be the first topic you think of when you imagine the word “fun”. But chatting about careers can be a great thing to do on a date. You’ll get to know the person better and might also have a chance to vent about your work. You might even learn something new. For example, if your date is a dog trainer, you could pick up a few tips about how to train your dog!
- Their dating life. You don’t want to pry into their dating life, but just casually asking how dating has been for them can lead to a very interesting conversation. You’ll get an idea about what they’re looking for and what experiences they’ve already had. Oprah Daily recommends mentioning your date’s online dating profile, if you met via an app. If they mention something interesting in their profile, ask them about it.
- Family. Marie Claire suggests talking about family, especially on a first date. This will allow you both to share details about the core people in your lives while also revealing more about yourself. You’ll find out if they’re close with their family, if they come from a big family, and if the concept of family is important to them.
- Unforgettable experiences. Without a doubt, asking about the most unforgettable experiences your date has had in their life will lead to lots of fascinating revelations. It will give you the chance to share your proudest, funniest, and most priceless memories while also learning things about your date that most people don’t know. This is also a considerably more fun topic than “What are your favorite hobbies?”