After the first date, don't retreat! Thank her via a quick message for a good time and, later, ask her if she's interested in a second date. Continue dating and communicating frequently, whether by text message or conversation in-person. Sometimes finding someone interested in a second date may take time. If the first person you meet with declines, don't beat yourself up. Keep getting to know people and keep dating. Emotional intimacy takes time to develop. As it blossoms, you'll find your relationship with her strengthening. As you continue going on dates, slowly get to know her on a deeper level. When you feel comfortable, share more personal thoughts and feelings with her. She may follow suit when she feels ready. A "DTR" conversation stands for "define the relationship." After you two have gone on multiple dates and had lots of conversations, ask her whether she wants to start dating exclusively. If so, discuss where the relationship is going and how you want to proceed. Try to keep the conversation light and comfortable. Starting the conversation with, "What are we?" can make her feel anxious. Let her know that you care about her no matter what and that you'll respect her choice, even if she doesn't want to be in a relationship. If she says she doesn't want to be your girlfriend, don't blame yourself. She may not be ready for commitment at this time, or the two of you might not connect romantically. Thank her for being honest and, if you feel comfortable, work to maintain a relationship as friends. Be kind and dignified, and respect her choices. Sometimes, raw feelings may get in the way of keeping a friendship. If you need space to process your emotions, let her know. Don't give up! When you're ready, return to dating online. In time, you may find "the one."

Summary: Communicate with them often, and continue going on dates. Engage gradually in more intimate conversations. Schedule a "DTR" conversation when you're ready. Be kind and thoughtful if things don't work out.

You may be most likely to fantasize when doing mindless tasks, like washing the dishes. Rather than sticking to the same routine or doing tasks in the same order each day, mix it up. This will add spice to your day, and help your brain gain more focus and attention. For example, if you usually wake up, workout, make brunch, then clean the house on Sunday, try something new. Go out to eat, exercise at night, or clean first thing in the morning. When you find yourself slipping into a fantasy, stop yourself. Distract yourself from the fantasy by starting a different task or focusing on a different object. To disrupt the fantasy, you can get up and stretch or do a simple exercise, like jumping jacks. Start focusing on an object around you, such as a paperweight or a cup. Notice its little details. Touch it to see what it feels like. This can help you become more mindful. Mindfulness brings you to the present moment by helping you focus on sensations. Sit in a comfortable chair, and take deep breaths. Concentrate only on the sensation of your breath. If your mind starts to wander, stop yourself, and start focusing on your breath again. Start with a short period of time, such as ten minutes, and work your way up to longer periods. You can also expand your awareness to other sensory details. What are you touching? Do you smell anything? What sounds do you hear? In a fast-paced society, multitasking has become the norm as people try to accomplish and complete too many tasks in a short time frame. Brains are very fluid, and when you train your brain to function in such a way, you'll lose your ability to focus. Lack of focus leads to distractions through daydreaming or thinking about other things. Eliminate the habit of multitasking from your life and start focusing on one task at a time. Turn off all of your distractions and commit your attention to one task at a time. The moment you feel your thoughts start to wander, stop what you're doing, take a five minute break, and come back to the same task. If you're sleepy, you're more likely to start daydreaming. Aim to sleep between seven and nine hours a night. Having a consistent sleep schedule where you sleep and wake up at the same time can also help. Try to clear your mind at night so you don't lie awake in bed fantasizing. Meditate before bed, and avoid any bright screens for an hour before bedtime. In the morning, instead of lying in bed daydreaming, try to get up right away and start your day.

Summary: Change up your routine. Redirect your attention when your mind wanders. Practice mindfulness meditation. Avoid multitasking. Get enough sleep.

This is very important. It won't do much to give your hair extra volume, but it will protect your hair from heat damage, and prevent it from turning brittle and dry. Be sure to focus the heat protectant on the ends of your hair, which tend to get damaged the easiest. Plan on straightening your hair in at least three layers. If you have very thick hair, or just a lot of it, you will have to work in thinner sections. Take a small, 1 to 2-inch (2.54 to 5.08-centimeter) section of hair, and clamp your iron over it, as close as you can to your scalp without burning yourself. Instead of pulling the iron straight down, pull it upwards towards the ceiling by a few inches/centimeters. When you get halfway across your hair, pull the iron away from your head. Pulling the iron upwards helps create volume, while pulling it away makes it easier on your arm. If your hair is too hot for you to touch, use a hairbrush to handle it. It might also be a good sign that your hair straightener is set to too high of a temperature; you might want to lower the temperature a little. Once you are done, you can move on to the next layer, or gently tease your hair first. If you choose to tease your hair, give it a quick spray with a flexible hairspray to set the style while allowing movement and flow. Always work in layers and small sections. Remember, the thicker your hair is, the more layers you will have to work with. Run your fingers upwards through your hair, starting at the roots. This will give your hair that final lift it needs. If you want to, give your hair a spray with some texturizing hairspray.
Summary: Apply heat protectant to your hair. Pull the top half of your hair up into a bun. Start with a small section of hair, close to your hair line. Pull the iron upwards and away. Finish straightening the rest of bottom layer in a similar fashion. Continue straightening the rest of your hair. Finish off by running your hands through your hair.