39 woman this month | February 2012 | 1. Don’t go it alone. Go out to dinner with friends. Everyone else in the restaurant may be having quiet, intimate conversations, but you and your lot can be screaming with laughter. 2. Rock your own rules. Creating your own traditions that you totally adore will give you something to look forward to year after year. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you love and makes you happy. 3. Pamper yourself. One of the great joys of being single is that when you give yourself a gift, it’s something you really want. Get your nails done; follow it with a massage; take a long bubble bath; cook yourself a nice dinner and treat yourself to your favourite dessert. Buy that skirt you’ve been eyeing up or even a diamond ring — go for it! If splurging on yourself is tough, rationalise it this way — if you were coupled, you would be spending that cash on someone else anyway. 4. Do some good. Volunteer. It may not be the first thing that comes to mind for Valentine’s Day, but it just may be what you’re looking for. You’ll help out your community and leave with a fantastic feeling in your heart. And what’s not to like about that? 5. Fly solo. Do those things you’ve been meaning to do, but that no one wants to join in with, such as watching the latest sci-fi thriller, visiting the museum or checking out an art exhibition. Don’t wait until someone changes their mind, just go. 6. Redefine the day. Instead of thinking of February 14, 2012 as Valentine’s Day, think of it as the day you ran a mile in eight minutes, the day you made cheesecake all by yourself or the day you watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s for the first time. 7. Movie time. Treating yourself to a nice movie might be just the break you need. Invite some friends over and plan a movie marathon. You can spend the entire night eating fun snacks and catching up with friends. 8. Throw an anti-Valentine’s Day party. Chances are you aren’t the only person who isn’t thrilled about the holiday. Dress in black if it makes you feel better. If you aren’t in the mood for mushy rom-coms; turn the movie-fest to an Anti-Valentine’s DVD night. Think The Godfather or Pulp Fiction. Cupid piñata is optional, but highly recommended. 9. Don’t embarrass yourself. Unplug or hide your mobile phone to avoid the possibility of calling any of the people you are lucky to have out of your life. Do not consider emails either. This is especially important if there is any alcohol involved in your “celebration”. 10. Get yourself together. Use the free time to get yourself organised. Clean up your calendar, catch up on laundry, and plan ahead for major projects. It may sound lame at first, but you might be surprised at how good you feel after you’re done. If all else fails, consider sleeping through the holiday. Enjoy the morning after! It’s that time of year again — that special day dedicated to cheesy romance, gooey candy, expensive flower arrangements and goofy plush toys plastered with big red hearts. Whether you’re feeling lonely or simply hate the day devoted to romance, we’ve got 10 ways to help you keep your cool without feeling blue this Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Singleton’s Survival Guide 10 Elma Bartholomew
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