These are the biggest red flags in your date's body language

The search for love is exciting and therefore has its charms, but that first date often still feels like a huge mountain to climb. Then again, it is packed with a heavy rucksack full of nerves and questions. Is your potential partner really as nice as you thought after all the app conversations? To make the search for answers a little easier, according to relationship expert Sophie Orozco, you should pay particular attention to one thing: body language. After all, this is where several red flags can be hidden.

Too little eye contact

While it is not surprising that nerves make you look down at the ground from time to time, Orozco says it is important to check that your date does not keep avoiding your gaze. After all, not making eye contact at all could mean that someone is avoiding intimacy or doesn't want to be seen, and therefore might have something to hide. You really don't have to start a staring contest, but there is obviously still a balance between that all or nothing. Looking at each other enough, according to Orozco, is a must on a first date. After all, your eyes can say a lot about what you're feeling and so might also give you a little hint as to whether that second date is in the cards.

Closed arms

So, during a conversation, if all goes well, you mainly look at someone's face. Still, it is useful to also take a look at the posture of the rest of your date's body, especially the arms. If someone is constantly sitting with his arms crossed, then a warning bell may carefully ring. Crossing your arms creates a closed posture and therefore, according to Orozco, could be a sign that the other person is not that concerned about a possible follow-up. “If they cross their arms, it means they are defensive and don't want to be open; it is an unconscious barrier between them and the other person.” Not exactly an invitation to get to know each other better.

Too much nervous wiggling

Believe me, I get it. A first date is mega exciting and being nervous is more than normal. However, there is an important difference between healthy nerves and genuine anxiety. Constantly fidgeting with clothes, looking around tense or wobbly legs can mean there's more to it than just a little first-date jitters, according to Orozco. Maybe your date isn't ready to start looking for love after all, or there are other (mental) issues at play.

If you see any of these signs during your first date, according to Orozco, it does not necessarily immediately mean that any relationship cannot be a success. It is just a sign that you need to be alert. Do these traits keep recurring even on subsequent dates, when the initial nerves have subsided? Then it might still be good to consider whether you are really such a good match right now.

Source: PureWow. Image: Dynasty