Yes, it’s less than a week to go now…and then the most dreaded day on the calendar for singles will be here again. But do not fear!!! Here are a few things that you can do on Valentines day to avoid couples throwing their ‘forced’ love in your face.

1.    Hire all the romantic movies you can find. Buy a box of tissues (or two), a tub of ice cream, a slab of chocolate and any other food you consider comfort food, switch your phone off, unplug the landline and live vicariously through the perfectly good looking actors and flawless actresses who always end up getting the guy!

Just watch some romantic movies like Brief Encounter. It’ll cheer you up.

2.    Plan a dinner party with your other single friends and buy your favourite takeaways, cheap wine and remind yourselves what strong, independent women you are. And then, depending on how much cheap wine has been consumed, drunk dial your ex boyfriends and then hang up. Yes it is a totally childish act that you will regret in the morning but it may just annoy his new girlfriend and nothing is as sweet as revenge!

Have a dinner party with your friends, hopefully the police will be called.

3.    Go out! The world doesn’t stop turning because it’s Valentines Day. Pubs and clubs are still open. So shave your legs, wash your hair, put some make up on and go out. Who knows you may end the evening with a “we met on Valentines day” story to tell at your wedding. Everyone loves those stories.

Go out and nab a similar loser to yourself…

4.    Work late. Nothing like a bit of denial to help pass the most romantic day of the year. Your boss will appreciate the effort – mainly because he probably forgot it was Valentines so needs to leave early to try and find a gift to make up for the fact no flowers were sent. Order pizza and catch up on the dreaded filing.

Work late, it’s a way to fight off all that happiness that couples pretend.

5.    Go shopping. Nothing like a little retail therapy to make up for the fact you are going home alone. Get some sexy new underwear – not with the idea of using them to get a man but to make you feel good about yourself.

Shop and continue your relationship with your credit card

6.    Spring clean your house. It has to be done at some point. The cupboards are becoming toxic. So what better time that now? You have nothing better to do and what do they say about clearing clutter and allowing for new things?? See two birds one stone!

Clean the house, so when someone does come round, they won’t die.

7.    Send yourself some flowers. Ok this is really sad and desperate and I have never done it. Although I have been tempted – especially when everyone else in the office seems to be loved by someone (or possible is desperate enough to send themselves flowers). If you work with one of those smug women who always get the perfect bunch of red roses with that cute perfect little teddy bear and the heart shaped box of chocolates then buy the flowers. Live on the edge and buy two bunches!

To you, lots of love: me.

8.    Accept the dinner invitation from your best friend to join her and her boyfriend for dinner. Although I don’t highly recommend this unless you have “that” kind of relationship with your best friend. It could just end up a sad reminder of what you don’t have. But it also could be a happy reminder of what a totally awesome friend you have when she ditches her boyfriend to dance on the tables with you after 3 jugs of sangria!

Go and see your smug married friends and look for cracks!

9.    Join a yoga class. This will not only help you centre yourself but will also increase your flexibility for when you are not alone at Valentines and need to be flexible.

Don’t go to yoga to nab a man - he’ll probably be gay.

10.    Go to bed early. Nothing nicer than getting into bed with your socks on, reading a good book and falling asleep peacefully.

Just go to bed. It’s depressing, but bed won’t let you down.