The Valentine season is enough to make a single girl want to buy out Target’s supply of heart-shaped chocolates, lock herself in a room, and watch Titanic. I’d be lying if I said that I haven’t done this before. It may or may not have just been an excuse to eat candy and watch chick flicks… but I digress.

It almost doesn’t seem fair to us single girls.  We have just survived the depressing Christmas season (I mean, fewer gifts, no mistletoe, and no snuggle-fests? Come on.).  And now we have to face yet another holiday devoted to spending time with a significant other. It’s plain cruel. As AHN’s self-proclaimed “Single Expert,” I come to tell you to have no fear:  we can survive this holiday together with just a few easy tips.

1. Grab your single friends and have your own “special” night.

Chances are you’re not the only single girl in your group of friends. If you are, now’s a great time to get some more friends. Trust me, you’ll need the support system. Plan something fun that you and your girls can do together while your coupled friends spend every waking hour with their boyfriends. Whether your idea of fun is a night out with the girls or just a Gossip Girl marathon, spending time with just the girls can be a great time to become even closer with your sisters. Decide who’s Carrie and who’s Charlotte. Don’t be afraid to get a little cheesy and break out the mud masques or toenail polish – now’s the time to be as girly as possible without being ashamed. Plus, you’ll have plenty of people with whom to complain about being single (or if you’re like me, talk about how awesome being single is.)

2. Don’t blame your coupled friends.

Once you see all your coupled friends’ Valentine spirit, you’re probably going to resent them. I get it – it’s natural. However, try to keep in mind that it’s not their fault you’re single. And if it is, well, their probably not that great of friends anyway. Help them plan out a Valentine’s Day surprise for the significant other or even spend some time with them the days leading up to V-day. They’re probably going to be jealous of the awesome girls’ night you’re going to have anyway so don’t ostracize them for being coupled, as easy as it may be!

3. Take the boys out.

Last year I spent my Valentine’s Day with my two best guy friends and had a great time. No, I was not romantically interested in either of them, but having some quality guy time is necessary. Being surrounded by women all week long can be an estrogen overload, so taking the guys out for a night on the town can be a necessary change. Odds are,  they’re upset about a lonely Valentine’s Day too, but are too afraid to show it. Grab dinner, watch a movie, whatever, just don’t forget the guys!

4. Love being single!

I’m an expert on being single for a reason- I love it! Though I may tease that I am “too single for my own good” as I push play on the fifth episode of Kendra I have recorded, I have no shame in being single. Since when did singledom become a death sentence? We, as AHN ladies, are strong, intelligent, beautiful girls, so why do we have to be in a relationship to feel good about ourselves? Quite frankly, I’m sick of hearing about how pathetic it is to be single on Valentine’s Day. Might I remind you that being single at sixteen years old does not a cat-lady make. Being single is a great time to focus on yourself and grow as a person, as well as strengthening your friendships. I assure you – it’s not so bad. So next time “Single Ladies” is played at a sweet sixteen, grab your girls and get out there and celebrate it!

There you have it, a fool-proof survival guide to being single on Valentine’s Day. Though some of us may not quite be ready to celebrate singledom, I can promise that following these steps will make taking the sickening romance of the season just a little bit easier. Whatever your situation may be, come February 15,  I will raise my tub of cookie dough to all my single ladies, and say,  “We made it. We’ve survived another year.”