10 Tips to Survive Valentine’s

5. Celebrate being single this year by doing an out-of-the-ordinary solo activity.
Visit a psychic, get pampered at a spa (yes, even men can find great treatments), schedule a horseback-riding lesson, try a yoga class: anything unusual that excites you. “Choose an activity that you might not typically do,” says Nefer. “Make it about self love vs. being reliant on an outside source.”   

6. Don’t feel like doing much? Allow yourself the luxury of driving through or ordering in from your favorite restaurant.
Rent a movie, buy some magazines or curl up with a good book and just relax.   

7. If being alone on Valentine’s Day is the last thing you want, host a small party or get-together at your place.
“Staying isolated and singing the blues is never going to lead to recovery,” says licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Vicki Carpel-Miller. “Being around other people, staying active and involved keeps the mind occupied in a positive direction.” Make some cocktails and appetizers and invite as many non-couples as you can. Have a secret Valentine gift exchange or a grab bag filled with kinky party gifts, depending on the crowd.  

8. Go the extra mile this year: plan a trip to visit a friend or relative.
Take a short drive or flight and spend the holiday with someone you love. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, plan a trip to somewhere you’ve never been and always wanted to see. Ask a friend to join you or meet you there and have fun exploring a new place.  

9. For those who like the culinary arts, Valentine’s Day is an excellent excuse to cook a gourmet dinner.
Make yourself a favorite meal or experiment with a new recipe. If you drink, open a bottle of good wine and enjoy the process of cooking for yourself. Invite someone over if you want to share, or cook just enough for yourself this Valentine’s Day. Turn up the music while you cook and relish being the master of your own domain!  

10. Don’t feel like celebrating Valentine’s Day at all? Then don’t! 
Maybe you’ve never liked Valentine’s Day, or maybe this year you’d rather just ignore it. Whatever your reasons, give yourself a “get-out-of-Valentine’s-Day-free” card. Go about your business as you would on any other day and don’t sweat it. Pretend to be hard of hearing if anyone wishes you a happy Valentine’s Day, and whatever you do, don’t wear red!    


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

For other ideas and resources related to being single on Valentine’s Day, check out http://www.stvalentinesday.org/valentines-day-for-singles.html.
Visit http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03ff02.html for some interesting facts and statistics related to Valentine’s Day.
Visit www.keycounselingservices.com to learn more about Kristin Cavins or to set up a phone counseling appointment.   

Mandy Vemulapalli is a freelance writer living in Chandler, Ariz. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from UNLV and currently writes for "BizAZ Magazine, Woman’s World Magazine" and various Web sites.