what can you do to get closer on dating?

It can be awkward to reach for a hand, or move in for a kiss, if you haven't made any physical contact at all yet. Short of doing the old yawn-and-stretch move, what can you do to get closer?
Try one of these (non-cliché) moves.

Practice Makes Perfect
Touching gets easier the more you do it, so practice with low-key, casual contact. Touch someone when you're making a point, rest your hand on an arm in sympathy, or lightly bump a back to emphasize a joke. By casually breaking the physical barrier in conversation, you make it easier to make a romantic move later.

Start Early
Another option is to make a big move early to break the tension and make your interest known right from the start. Holly, 31, tells the story of her first date with her now-husband. "He just went ahead and kissed me at the beginning of the date," she says. "It eliminated all the first-date jitters and we went on to have a great time, and were very cozy, the rest of the date."

Just Be Polite
Guys can rely on manners to make contact in a non-threatening way. Help your date out the car, help her out of her coat, or lightly touch her back to usher her through an open door. And, ladies, don't wait for him to make such a move. You can always reach for his arm when you're walking.

Close the Space
If you're already sitting or standing close together, it creates less of the terrifying space you need to cross to touch each other. Try to sit next to each other - not across - at dinner. Or speak lower, inviting your date to move in to hear you.

Get Active
Still too nervous to make a move? Try picking a date activity that ensures you get cozy. Invite your date to come over and make dinner together (especially good if you have a tiny kitchen!). Or make a date to go dancing, rock climbing or ice skating. Anything that gives you an excuse to put your hands on each other.