I'm almost surprised to say that I've been lucky enough to be in love for every Valentine's Day of my adult life, and V-Day has been one of my favorite holidays for the same amount of time. However, I admit that when I was younger and single, I wasn't sure how to celebrate the holiday. Without a specific "Valentine" (other than my mom), I felt that I was a little too old for those chalky candy hearts with vague messages on them, and a little too single for the roses, jewelry, and dinners for two that were being marketed to couples around me.

If I could, I'd love to tell single me what I know now about how to enjoy Valentine's Day as a single person--it would have relieved some stress. I can't tell her (me), but I can tell you--and I believe that this information could help your stress levels as well, even if you are not at all stressed about celebrating Valentine's Day single. Even if you are not even single!

What I'd like to share is the concept of being your own Valentine. This holiday is all about showing love to your "special someone," but who should be more special to you than you? To make the most of this holiday, I recommend treating yourself right by practicing excellent self-care, getting more pleasures in life, and doing the things you enjoy for the day. Why not get yourself some chocolates if you want them? Buy yourself fresh flowers and make your home a little more peaceful. If you'd like to get dressed up, why not dress up for yourself? You deserve it, and focusing on these things can bring you plenty of precious stress relief. You may just get inspired to do these nice things for yourself year-round, as you should!

In addition to taking special care of yourself for Valentine's Day, I would like to suggest that we all show our friends and loved ones some extra care. You may already be doing this, but if not, I encourage you to reach out to those you care about and let them know what you appreciate about them. Let them know you love them, and let them know what it is about them for which you are grateful. And if you are single and wishing you had a partner on Valentine's Day, spending time with a friend or group of friends is the way to go! Relationships, not just the romantic ones, but all of our healthy relationships, are what bring richness to our lives. Our relationships can be among our greatest assets for stress relief.

Whatever your plans, I'd like to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you have a day filled with love from many sources, and a week that keeps the good feelings going. The following resources can help you have a Valentine's Week to love.

Self-Care And Relationship Resources:

• Self Care Strategies You Shouldn't Miss
  Taking good care of yourself is an important part of stress management! Give yourself the care you deserve and consult this list for ideas.

• Pleasures In Life
  Enjoying life's pleasures is a great way to increase happiness and reduce stress. Learn more about the research behing getting pleasure in life.

• Laugh And Have more Fun
  Laughter's not just the best medicine, it's the best stress reliever as well--or at least one of the best. Here's how to enjoy yourself more this Valentine's Day, or any day.

• Overcoming Loneliness
  If you're feeling lonely this Valentine's Day, you're not alone. The holiday that's designed for couples can sometimes make singles feel left out. Here's more to know about loneliness, and how to get past the feeling.

• Benefits of Social Support
  Here's why relationships are good for you, along with tips on how to cultivate more relationships in your life.

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This Valentine's Day, I sure there will be many, many couples enjoying a night of romance and passion. Of all the holidays, this one is the most likely to get people in the mood. And that's a very good thing!

How about the rest of the year, though? Are you in a romantic relationship that's lost some of its luster? Do you find it to be more challenging to get into the mood than it used to be, and suspect this is due to stress? There are a few underlying reasons people experience a waning libido (lower sex drive), and they can include everything from underlying health problems to the natural progression of a relationship. (Those first few months are generally more intensely exciting than later months and years, though there are many benefits that come from a longer-standing relationship that more than make up for the shift.) Stress, however, is a widespread and often-overlooked culprit when it comes to a dampened desire; men and women alike can find themselves less romantically inclined when they're chronically stressed.

If you find yourself 'too tired' more often than you'd like to be, don't rule out the role of stress. And don't overlook the value of sex (within a healthy, committed relationship) as a great stress reliever as well. The following resources can tell you what you need to know.

Sex and Stress Resources:

• Sex as a Stress Relief Technique
  How does sex work for stress relief? Let us count the ways!

• How Stress Can Lead to Low Libido
  It's not all in your head. Here are some of the ways that high stress is linked with low sex drive.

• How To Get Into The Mood When You're Too Stressed For Sex
  If you suspect that stress is dampening your fire, these tips can help you to bring back that lovin' feeling.

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One of my favorite parts of Valentine's Day is the excuse to eat chocolate. (Not that I usually need an excuse.) The celebration of love is wonderful, but the abundance of chocolate makes me feel just as warm inside. Indeed, I'm a chocoholic.

Fortunately for the chocolate lovers among us, there are actually many health benefits to chocolate! Dark chocolate is best, small quantities are better than large, and mindfully eating your chocolate can bring added benefits, but just knowing that chocolate can be good for you makes Valentine's Day chocolates all the more sweet, in my opinion.

To make the most of the chocolate you enjoy for Valentine's Day and for the rest of the year, be sure to read the following resources. You'll get a full run-down on the benefits of chocolate (from several different angles), and you'll find out how to use chocolate as a stress relief tool. (I strongly recommend the chocolate meditation, especially for those who tend to binge on it, or those who find that regular meditation lacks flavor.)

In addition to collecting hugs and kisses from the ones you love on Valentine's Day, be sure to treat yourself to some dark chocolate, if it appeals to you. Enjoy the following.

Chocolate Lover's Resources:

• Dark Chocolate For Stress Relief
  How can dark chocolate be used for stress relief? There are actually a few different ways, outlined here!

• Health Benefits of Chocolate
  From About.com Longevity, learn more about the many health benefits of chocolate.

• Pitfalls of Chocolate
  A little chocolate can be good for you, but it's not a the-more-the-better kind of thing. Here's how not to overdo it.

• Try A Chocolate Meditation
  As I mentioned, this is one of my favorite forms of meditation. It's great for those who love chocolate, find traditional meditation to be challenging, or who'd like to try something new.

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Like many people I love Facebook. And while I started talking about the stress relieving benefits of Facebook quite a while back, I'd like to be sure you know about the stress management "fan page" I run. You can "like" it and have a more active presence on the page as well--you can share quotes and articles you find there, as well as read and share your thoughts on the ongoing resources you'll find from this site and around the web. I started the page yesterday and already have quite a few 'fans', and I'd love for you to be one of them.

The About Stress Management Facebook page has several features in the works that can help you relieve stress. Joining it will allow you to:

• Resources and Links-I'll be linking to my articles as well as other articles that have stress management angles, so you can have a steady feed of pertinent stress relief info without having to go out of your way for it.

• Inspirational Quotes-Sometimes the right words at the right time can make a big impact. Having them show up in your Facebook news feed is much more convenient than seeking them out in the middle of a busy day.

• Connection-There's a real power in synergy. Connecting with others who are focusing on stress relief in their lives is a great way to gain forward momentum in your stress management goals.

• Serenity Pictures-I have a few photos of serene scenes posted, which are perfect for taking a quiet moment of reflection in the midst of a stressful day. You can post your own photos, too, and see what others have to share.

• Get Stress Relief Updates-You can get an RSS feed from this site, sign up for the weekly newsletter (sent twice a week) and get other ongoing stress reduction resources from this site, but the Facebook group will bring regular updates to your Facebook page and allow you to post links and photos, and share your expertise with the group.

Join My 'About Stress Management' Group I'd love to see you there!