15 Winning Ways To Impress A Guy

There are countless different ways to impress a guy, and the real challenge is figuring out which approach actually works for you.

Of course, don't forget that he should be impressing you too, so the effort shouldn't all fall on your shoulders. Mutual respect and love form the base of any solid relationship, so make sure whoever you're pursuing actually deserves your energy, and don't waste it on someone who doesn't. But once you're sure this guy is worth it, nothing you put in will go to waste.

A man is naturally more drawn to you when you make an impression on him, so here are several tips to help you get there.

1. Respect Yourself

If you're figuring out how to impress a guy, start with feeling genuinely good about who you are and the choices you make. That means pausing before major life decisions, tuning into your own instincts, and treating yourself with the same care you'd give someone you love.

That might sound like a bundle of clichés, but it's not: women who honor themselves refuse to let others walk over them, they stand firm on their beliefs, and they act in their own best interest as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. This code of self-respect isn't reserved for knights in shining armor — live by it, and you'll impress any man worth your time.

2. Don't Overreact To Everything

Nobody enjoys a crybaby, as your grandfather probably told you. (Or a tattletale, for that matter.) Keeping your emotions steady is a skill most of us have to work at as we mature, but it pays off. If impressing a guy is the goal, keep your temper in check and skip unnecessary negativity.

Don't let your feelings get bruised too easily, and pause before venting to him about something he or someone else did. A lot of perceived slights look a lot smaller after you've slept on them, so take a breath and work on becoming a steadier, more composed version of yourself.

3. Let Him See Your Fun Side

Nobody likes a bore. Everyone, on the other hand, loves someone who genuinely knows how to enjoy life. Let your happy, playful side show around this guy — and ideally, all the time. Propose new activities, lift others' moods, be the one who keeps the energy up, crack a silly joke, laugh instead of stressing, and share your warmth with everyone around you. Consistently upbeat people leave an impression, if for nothing else than their sheer consistency at it.

Plus, when someone feels good in your company, they'll want to stick around even more. Check out this article for some fun date ideas!

4. Hold Onto Your Independence

Whether you two are already together or you're hoping to get there, keep your self-sufficiency intact. That can look like plenty of things — spending time solo, skipping activities that don't interest you, or holding down a steady job. It also means cutting reliance on others, whether that's an overly generous parent or an ex whose finances are still tangled up with yours. Whoever you're interested in, he wants proof you can handle yourself.

5. Build Your Own Opinions

Your views should belong to you and no one else. Even on unfamiliar topics, give yourself the respect of learning more before jumping to a conclusion. Either way, resist the urge to just echo whatever the guy you like believes. It might feel like a shortcut now, but he won't respect you for it down the line.

Instead, own it when you don't know enough about something yet to have a real opinion. Then dig in, learn more, and circle back later with what you actually think. That honesty and follow-through will get his attention.

6. Cultivate Contentment

Contentment doesn't come easily — just look at how many books exist on finding it, or how much we admire people with that Zen-like calm. Real peace of mind takes a lifetime to build, but you can nurture it by regularly doing things that settle you, like working out, yoga, painting, horseback riding, walking along the beach, or whatever your personal happy place looks like. Inner calm radiates outward as self-mastery, and that leaves an impression on almost everyone.

7. Sharpen Your Emotional Intelligence

Men often get unfairly labeled as indifferent to feelings — theirs or anyone else's — but that stereotype is increasingly outdated. Society now gives men more room to express emotion, which makes it even more worthwhile to stay attuned to what your guy is feeling.

Reading him might be simpler than you'd expect. Start picking up on his cues even while you're still just friends or acquaintances. People gravitate toward those who make them feel understood. And your apparent ability to read his mind will impress him plenty on its own.

8. Disagree With Grace

Remember that bit about forming your own opinions? Good — now make sure you voice them respectfully. We're well past the days of Victorian propriety, but that's no excuse to be harsh. Whether you're disagreeing with him or anyone else, share your view with tact.

Good manners leave an impression on everyone and are always worth the effort, so keep your tone gentle, mind your language, and don't let yourself get riled up.

9. Flip Traditional Roles

Who decided he always has to hold the door? If you want him to treat you as an equal and value all the things that make you impressive, extend some of those same courtesies to him. Buy him a drink or pick up dinner — your money is worth just as much as his, so there's no reason to sit back while he foots every bill. Let him choose the movie sometimes instead of dragging him to a rom-com after a long week.

And if you two are still getting to know each other? Well, naturally you should walk him home so he doesn't get mugged 😉

10. Develop Interesting Skills

If you're stuck on how to impress a guy, try picking up a distinctive talent. Fire-breathing or black-belt karate moves are great if you've got them, but ordinary skills work just fine too. Nail a card trick that leaves everyone stumped, then keep your secret close (unless he asks really nicely). Take up rock climbing at the gym so you're never short an excuse to invite people along.

11. Reveal A Wild Streak

Guys are drawn to women who feel liberated — and not only in bed. There's always been something appealing about women unafraid to show their untamed side. Don't worry, this doesn't have to mean a naked 3 a.m. drive to the coast; it can show up in much smaller ways.

Invite him (or a group of friends including him) to a spontaneous concert on a random Sunday night. Climb an enormous tree. Order a box of edible crickets online and cook them up for fun. (Yes, that's a real thing you can do.) Fearlessness is universally appealing, so lean into it.

12. Discover Shared Interests

One of the strongest ways to impress a guy is showing genuine knowledge in something he cares about. Faking expertise in niche subjects like taxidermy, vegan cooking, or medieval swordplay rarely works, so don't bother. Instead, gently dig around until you land on a topic you can both discuss, then get the conversation going. Don't oversell yourself, but don't shy away from showing real knowledge either. Genuine skill impresses him, and he'll be glad to have found common ground to talk shop about.

13. Cherish Your Friendships

Women often get unfairly stereotyped as needing a man to feel complete, and your love interest might quietly wonder if you're one of those people. Prove otherwise by investing real energy into time with your girlfriends. Make plans with them even during typically romantic occasions, like holidays or Saturday nights.

Don't shy away from a night out with the girls or a bachelorette party. Showing that you're not sitting around waiting for a guy to rescue you will impress him and spark his curiosity.

14. Perfect A Low-Maintenance Beauty Routine

Few things test a guy's patience like waiting through a long, drawn-out getting-ready process. Whether you're just hooking up, in a longer relationship, or hoping to turn a friendship into something more, it's worth building a simple, efficient beauty routine.

Lean into your hair's natural texture, whether that's natural curl or effortless air-dried waves. Keep makeup minimal, highlighting just one feature and keeping everything else neutral — focus on eyes, cheeks, or lips. Stock your closet with fewer, higher-quality pieces you can throw on fast and always look good in. Then impress him with how quickly you go from bedhead to polished. Check out our other tips to feel sexy right now!

15. Embrace Your Quirks

Your quirks make up a huge part of who you are, and being genuinely content depends on accepting — even loving — them. Whether it's something that bugs you, like a loud, "unfeminine" laugh or a persistent nail-biting habit, or something you secretly like but worry others won't, like a love of death metal, own it fully.

Impressing a guy shouldn't be the central goal of your life, but if you've found someone worth the effort, there's nothing wrong with giving it your all. Just remember: the surest way to impress a man — or really, anyone — is to chase your own dreams and become the person you actually want to be.

January 23, 2021