Why You Should Masturbate Before Your First Date

Nobody likes nervousness on the first date, but almost everyone enjoys masturbation. So how about masturbating to quell your pre-date anxiety? According to experts (and science), masturbation can be a great stress reliever and confidence booster, which is exactly what you need before you meet your partner for the first time.

“Many people think that masturbation is purely about pleasure,” Dr. Justin Lehmiller , Lovehoney’s scientific advisor, tells Lifehacker. “However, if you look at the most common reasons for masturbation, they really have a lot to do with self-care and well-being, both physical and mental. Masturbation is a convenient way to relieve stress, relax, aid sleep and engage in self-exploration.”

It will help you relax

According to Lehmiller, the two most common reasons for masturbation are stress relief and relaxation. “U.S. national survey data shows that more than a third of men and women say they have used masturbation as a stress reliever, and more than a quarter say they have used masturbation to relax,” he explains. “Given that a first date can be a little stressful (for example, you may be worried about making a good first impression), pre-date self-pleasure can help you feel more relaxed, at ease, and able to be yourself in the situation.”

It helps clear your mind

Masturbation relieves sexual tension, which can be helpful when you’re about to get involved with someone who makes you nervous.

“ A date can be a sexual situation. After all, people tend to date partners to whom they have a strong physical attraction,” says Lehmiller. “Masturbating before a date can help satisfy those sexual feelings so you can focus more on communicating with your partner and determining whether the attraction is more than just superficial attraction.”

It helps improve sex

In the long run, Lehmiller says, masturbation can help build sexual confidence by allowing you to better understand what does (and doesn’t) bring you pleasure. This means that if the topic of sex comes up with a new partner, self-knowledge and confidence will make it easier for you to communicate your desires and boundaries.

“Another relatively common reason people masturbate is to explore their sexuality,” Lehmiller says. “About one in eight women and one in thirteen men say they resort to masturbation for this reason. To the extent that masturbation helps you better understand your sexuality and what you like and don’t like, it can lead to increased sexual self-esteem and confidence in the bedroom because you’ll be better equipped to ask for what you want. What do you want. »

Essentially, solo sex helps improve partner sex. In other words, masturbating before a date can lead to the best sex of your life.

The logistics of masturbating before a date

So, if you’ve decided to try masturbating before your next first date, you might be wondering when you should pleasure yourself beforehand and for how long. After all, you don’t want to get so caught up in yourself that you miss your date!

Javey Fry-Nekrasova , sex educator at Lovehoney, says that ideally, if you’re going to masturbate before a date, she’d recommend doing it an hour or two before the date, “but definitely with enough time to shower before the date.”

The duration will depend on the person. “Some people are happy with a quick session, while others may need more time and more rounds,” she says. When it comes to orgasm, although Fray-Nekrasova says they’re good, they shouldn’t be the subject of masturbation before a date. “You focus on pleasure, which helps lift your mood, relieve stress, and find the right place to meet someone new,” she says.