Sick of All the Couples? Five Tips to Help You Cope.

We're entering into holiday season - which is full of parties, good food, alcohol - and couples. Sure, there are plenty of unattached people in the world, but when you're at social events or family gatherings sometimes you can feel like the obvious single, standing by yourself next to the punchbowl in a room surrounded by couples. So what can you do to keep yourself from feeling isolated and down?

Following are some tips to help get you through those difficult couple-filled gatherings:

Focus on the positive. Being single comes with assets, like the freedom to come and go as you please and live your life exactly as you'd like on a day-to-day basis. Make a list of all the things you enjoy in your life right now, like having your own space to decorate, going out when you want (as well as staying in), making last-minute travel plans when the mood strikes, or planning that great adventure overseas next spring. Enjoy this time to yourself and truly savor it.

Know that this is temporary. Sure, it might feel like you've been single forever, but you haven't, and you won't be single for the rest of your life, either. You are always between relationships, unless you actively don't want to date anymore in your life. Remember, being single is just your situation right now, so don't give in to those feelings of doom and gloom.

Don't assume your coupled friends are happy. Do you think all your coupled friends are totally ecstatic in their relationships? Think again. Being with someone or even being married doesn't mean that they are happy, fulfilled, or that it's right in the long run. It's better to be looking for the right guy than realize you're in a relationship with the wrong one. Take your time and be patient. Love isn't something that is timed to your plan, but something that happens when your heart is truly open.

Enjoy what you love. If you like to travel, make plans to go somewhere exotic (or a road trip, or camping - whatever moves you) by yourself. Don't deny your happiness because you can't share it with someone - besides, don't you want adventures to talk about when you meet your next boyfriend?

Remember, you are not alone. About 50% of adults in the U.S. are single, so you're in good company despite the fact that friends, family, and commercials and ads can make you feel like an outsider. Don't let the opinions of others determine your satisfaction with your life. Enjoy yourself now, and be open to possibilities in the future. Love will find its way in.