Don’t take overly long lunches or drop by your sweetheart’s office every 15 minutes. After all, completing your work means you won’t have to put in any overtime, which allows for more time for fun, outside-the-office dates. According to a survey conducted by dating website eHarmony, 53 percent of online daters lie in their profile. I’m not going to tell you what to put in your profile, but I am going to insist that whatever you put there should be an honest reflection of who you are.

You would have to ask her what she thought of me as only she could tell you that. The point is that we all form that first impression and we always remember it. That is why your dating manners need to be top notch. I remember when I met my wife for the first time, I thought that she was a tomboy. My impression of her has changed after we dated and now that we have been married for quite some time, but I haven’t forgotten that first impression I had of her. Generally speaking, it’s best to get to know them for a couple of weeks by talking online and over the phone.

Make eye contact to demonstrate your interest in your date. Be respectful of your date if you smoke and don’t force your date to experience second-hand smoke. Also, if you take your date somewhere, don’t abandon him or her. If you go out with someone older or younger than you, consider the place you are thinking about taking them and whether they would enjoy it.

You do not need to live with him full time, especially if you have spent nights over at his home/dorm/apartment. When you’re exploring a new relationship, the last thing you want to do is ponder how it might end, though that’s exactly why we’re often advised to keep our work life and personal life separate. If you break up, you’ll have to see your ex every day. You could be at risk for potential sabotage from a heartbroken coworker.

If you’re feeling uncertain about an online relationship – especially if you’ve been asked for money – get a second opinion from someone you trust. Lay out the whole situation to a family member or friend and ask whether it seems suspicious to them. Make sure to choose someone who hasn’t already heard about your romance and isn’t emotionally invested in it. Although your online sweetheart claims to love you desperately, they always have a reason why it’s impossible for you to meet in person. They usually claim to be living outside the country – traveling, working abroad, or stationed overseas as part of the military. Sometimes they’ll make plans to visit you, but then come up with a last-minute emergency that cuts the plan short.

You don’t want to unintentionally embarrass yourself on the first few dates and leave her to clean up after you. Drink just enough for the night so you can at least still drive home. We know there are such personal accomplishments that we would like to brag about but please, not this time.