How to survive Christmas as a singleton Don't let this be you at Christmas! THE only thing worse than being single and having people try to set you up? It happening at Christmas time. "Whether it's meeting up with friends who are coupled up or negotiating nosy family members who ask why you're still unattached, being single at Christmas can be daunting," agrees eHarmony relationship expert Sarah Mason, But rather than locking yourself away with leftovers and bad off-peak TV re-runs, Mason suggests embracing potentially awkward social situations "as opportunities to meet new people." Here are five of her survival tips: Hold off on the self-pity Avoiding self-pity is the cardinal rule of being single, not just at Christmas but the whole year round. If you allow yourself to wallow in feelings of misery, you will slide on a downward spiral and potentially push people away. "It's often easier said than done to banish those feelings of sadness, so as soon as you feel your mind wandering, distract yourself," says Sarah. Make the most of the free time the festive season offers; attend parties, see old friends, take up a new hobby, and invite other single friends over for dinner - do not wallow. Prepare for nosy relatives Almost as inevitable as turkey for Christmas lunch is a nosy relative inquiring about your love life at a family get-together. The best way to deal with potentially prying questions from family members is to have a few tactful but firm responses on hand. Sarah suggests anything from the genuine "I just haven't found the right person yet" to the good-humoured "I didn't feel like buying so many presents this year." It doesn't really matter what you say, but being prepared will ensure you're not left grasping for words while your smug distant cousin and her new fiance ask why you're still single. Embrace the party If the prospect of walking into a gathering of family or friends by yourself is intimidating, fight that feeling. The biggest obstacle is in your head - the fact is that people are paying far less attention to you than you think they are. Getting through the door is the hardest part, says Sarah. Parties are much more enjoyable if you are relaxed and open to socialising. Be willing to engage in conversations with people you don't know, on various topics, including those you may not know much about. Being engaged and showing interest in people will make you seem more approachable. And who knows, you may even meet someone and hit it off," she says. Get your flirt on "While there's absolutely nothing wrong with being single, if you're ready for a long-term relationship the best approach to finding love is to use these social situations as opportunities to meet new people," Sarah says. Of course, online is a great alternative, and we expect the biggest increase in new memberships to happen in the new year, once the holiday madness has settled. But parties are also a great way to meet new people, and a chance to show your flirty side," she says, adding that one of the benefits of being single at Christmas are the opportunities to practice your flirting skills. At a party, it is perfectly acceptable to chat to someone for a few minutes before moving on to the next interaction. Use this opportunity to put your detective skills to work and find out what makes someone attractive to you. Focus on you Sarah recommends you leave yourself plenty of 'me' time during the holiday period. Relish the lack of responsibilities and spend time at the beach, indulging in a good book or some post-Christmas retail therapy. "The key to finding love is above all else being happy with yourself," says Sarah. Make a commitment to enjoy the holiday season and not let annoying relatives or loved up couples bring you down. When you're happy with yourself, it really comes through, and often that's when we meet someone we're compatible with. Sounds like a plan! What else would you suggest?