DANCING
Women love a guy that can move, take some classes, and she'll appreciate it that your willing to let go, and not care if others are watching, but just like to have fun.
http://www.askmen.com/entertainment/austin_400/467_why-real-men-dance.html
"You don’t have to be a great dancer to dance. In fact, the worse you are proves how comfortable you are in your own skin."
COOKING
http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/learn-cook
You'll impress anyone with your effort, eat healthier, read labels, save money, and learn something about your abilities.
How nice would it be to make your date some food for a picnic, breakfast, dinner, etc. and be appreciated for it.
SPEED-DATING
You get to talk to multiple women, in a short time span, and get your point across, without overthinking everything, but give them the main bullet points of why they should get to know you better.
You can't stay shy forever, and just think of it as meeting one of your buddies, and asking some personal questions, and you'll feel more comfortable.
EXERCISE
I know it is shallow to think, that it shouldn't matter the way you
look, but food is there to give us energy throughout the day, and if we neglect our body, it'll respond in the same manner, so we must take some in moderation.
It build confidence with yourself, gives you energy to have throughout the day, and keeps you motivated to stay in shape, makes you brainstorm ideas of activities that you can substitute, so you don't need to hit the gym each time, and gives you challenge to strive for each time, and the rewards are worth going for.
HISTORY
Learn about the past, through cultures, architecture.
Be curious about what has happened, to understand what we have today .... knowing these helps her see that you'd like her to learn something as well, and makes the conversation, that much more interesting, getting her views on the matter.
MEETUP GROUPS
http://www.meetup.com/
--- join various events, that you see women attending, and start chatting with them, it doesn't matter if you get rejected, it'll be good practice for others that you'll talk with.