The holidays are here, and you know what that means.

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They’re everywhere. Coming out of doorways. Strolling down the streets. Crawling into cars. They’re in the malls. The parks. All smiling and smitten. Wandering around, hand-in-hand, arm-in-arm, so close to each other they look like some strange, new four-legged creature.

Couples. Seems the holidays are just custom-made for them.

But singles, take heart. The holiday season also holds some gifts for you – gifts that couples don’t have the luxury of experiencing. Because these are gifts you give to yourself! TRUE is urging all singles in the land to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas by presenting themselves with 12 important gifts to help ensure a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (wrapping paper and bows are optional).

The First Day of Christmas: Give yourself a new experience.
Indulge in something you normally reserve for a special occasion – or try something completely new.

Consider:

• Taking creative inspiration for your approach on life by visiting an extraordinary museum exhibit.
• Going to a spa or a sports bar with friends.
• Fixing yourself a great meal using a new recipe.
• Enrolling in a class to learn a new skill or develop an untapped talent.
• Taking yourself and another single friend to dinner at a new restaurant you’ve wanted to try.

The Second Day of Christmas: Give to those who otherwise have no Christmas.
Remember, the season is really about the spirit of giving that stems from love. Give of yourself: Give a dozen roses and chocolates to a bereaved person. Volunteer at a charitable organization or deliver small toys to children at a local hospital — give of yourself and watch what you receive in return.

The Third Day of Christmas: Act like a child.
Spend some time with younger family members and do something fun. Children — innocent, youthful and blithely ignorant to the adult penchant for spending — view the holidays more simply. Take the opportunity to have fun with family and friends. Go sledding. Play a board game. String popcorn. This is also a great way for singles to show that they are happy and fulfilled people!

The Fourth Day of Christmas: Get away from social pressures.
Take a vacation alone or with friends to experience a different world. Go mountain-climbing, camping, shopping, biking, have a night on the town, enjoy a small party at a friend’s house, etc. Don’t just stay at home; physical activity is one of the best ways to combat feelings of loneliness and depression that singles experience during holidays.

The Fifth Day of Christmas: Save some for yourself.
According to a national holiday spending survey by Deloitte, consumers buy an average of 22 gifts each, with clothes topping their Christmas lists, followed by gift certificates and gift cards. Most will spend from $500 to $700 on gifts, making most of their purchases at discount stores or over the Internet. Take $100 and put it away to give yourself a surprise later in the year.

The Sixth Day of Christmas: Take initiative.
Holidays are notorious times for family and friends to question your single state. This year, start conversations by telling family and friends what has made you most happy since the last holiday season. That could be special accomplishments at work, a wonderful vacation or winning an award with a hobby or sports activity. By enthusiastically sharing your happiness as a single, you will help combat insinuations that being single means being unhappy and unfulfilled.

The Seventh Day of Christmas: Listen to upbeat music.
Your physical surroundings can have a huge psychological impact on your moods. Listening to your favorite music at every opportunity will elevate your mood and sustain it throughout the season. And don’t forget to sing along to your favorite songs. Singing is great for stress-reduction.

The Eighth Day of Christmas: Up your positive self-talk.
The world is telling you what a joyful, social, connected time of year this is. You may find yourself saying in response:

• “Yes, but I’m lonely.”
• “Yes, but what if I’m the only one at the party without a date?”
• “Yes, but I have no family here.”
• “Yes, but the holidays are for couples.”

Delete the “but” out of “yes, but”:

• “Yes, I love the holiday season.”
• “Yes, the holidays are for everyone.”
• “Yes, I can use this time to find spiritual replenishment.”
  

Every time you hit a holiday hurdle, visualize the phrase “Yes, but” floating in front of you. Now take a big, red, imaginary pen and cross out “but.”

The Ninth Day of Christmas: Eat, drink and sleep sensibly.
For most people, the holidays go hand-in-hand with too much high-fat food, caffeine and alcohol consumption, and not nearly enough sleep and exercise. One of the easiest and most straightforward ways to combat stress during the holidays is to pay more attention to your body during this extreme time of year.

The 10th Day of Christmas: Create a new holiday tradition that builds connections among your family and friends.
Take a fresh look at your various holiday traditions. Which ones serve you and your family well? If you discover that one or more of your current holiday traditions are growing stale, consider creating new ones. Keep in mind that the best traditions can be simple and inexpensive. Creating new traditions can be great fun, and it also puts the family focus on bonding.

The 11th Day of Christmas: Give yourself the gift of home.
If you’ve not made your house or apartment your home, consider doing so. Fill your home with things that reflect who you are. Many single’s homes are nothing more than storage for their stuff. Does the art you choose say, “This is me”? If it doesn’t, then get some. It doesn’t have to be expensive; it just needs to feel like you. Add some color to your home. Let gift-givers know what you would like for your home. Set needs aside for once and focus on wants.

The 12th Day of Christmas: Find True Compatibility.
Make a resolution to meet someone you’re really compatible with – not partially compatible with.

Learn about your most compatible matches

Take any of the family of free tests that make up the TRUE Compatibility Test to learn more about yourself and the kind of person who will rock your world! Try the TRUE Interests test, the TRUE Personality test, the TRUE Communication test, the TRUE Sexploration test, the TRUE Romance test and the TRUE Commitment test!