Ok, enough already. Who ever is in charge of weather, I get the picture and it’s really getting very silly. Can we please turn up the thermostat? I am cold and I imagine you may be too, and its pretty hard to keep you heart warm when your toes are freezing off. Who wants to go out and about in minus 3 degrees (and less in Yorkshire I hear!) dressed to please?

But the thing is that it’s going to be quite a while till we experience anything like warm weather so if you are single and ready for love, what will you need to do to keep the ‘fire of desire’ burning inside you?

Here are my top tips for staying on the social scene and not hibernating for the whole winter:

1) Plan Plan Plan. If you make a plan and it involves other people you are far more likely to stick to it and get out there. Make as many plans as possible. Book out several evenings a week and parts of the weekend. Even if it’s just the cinema with a friend, if you’ve agreed to go, then pile on the layers (so you can unpile in your seat) bite the bullet and go for it.

2) Help Yourself to Good Health. My new best friends are vitamins of all kinds. You simply cannot get enough vitamin C. It wards off colds, helps you get over them and I have heard that it’s good for hangovers too. Also fruit and vegetables. Once again eat tons of the stuff. As long as you don’t combine it with carbs you won’t put on any weight and strangely enough fruit keeps you fuller for longer so you won’t feel like you need to refuel so often.

3) Staying ‘Hot’ When It’s Cold. Drink fresh ginger, lemon and honey. Ginger is a recognized aphrodisiac and combined with the honey and lemon it’s delicious and makes you glow inside. Nutmeg is another natural aphrodisiac so add that to your hot drinks or for those of you ‘getting your oats’ (excuse the pun) sprinkle it on the top for a cheeky morning pick me up. If you can’t be asked, most coffee shops will have all these ingredients either in a herbal teabag or to put on top of your latte. If you can get some of this inside you before you go out, not only will you warm up your insides you may well ignite your passion.

4) Research cosy pubs, and restaurants. You know the one’s. They have log fires and snug corners. Add new meaning to the words ‘hot date’ by making sure you meet in a place where you are warm enough to remove your coat at the very least!

5) Volunteer: If Christmas does not hold too much joy for you this year, perhaps you can bring some joy to others. Volunteering at Christmas is always available. Spread your love around to those who would be so grateful for a warm smile and a bit of caring.

6) Keep Connecting. Love is not just reserved for the special people in your life or for Mr. or Mrs. Right when they appear. Connect with people. Look at them when you are speaking. Stay present to who they are. Imagine that everyone you meet has a big sign above their head that says ‘Make me Matter’. Spare a thought and a couple of quid for the Big Issue guys. Its cold working outside, let alone living outside. They are doing their best like all of us. Connect and spread your love around.

7) Finally Take Care of You. Remember to love yourself and give yourself what you need. Take time to chill out at home with some great music and your favourite food. Luxuriate in hot baths, spend time on the phone with friends when you don’t have the energy to go out and get some early nights. That’s what winter is for. The dark evenings are a perfect excuse to rest up and replenish your batteries. The winter is also a great time for singles to go on holiday. Many resorts drop their single supplements right after Christmas and it’s entirely possible to have lots of fun meeting new people if you take the risk of travelling alone. I’m counting down 12 weeks to the 28th February when I will be officially declaring winter over on a beach in Egypt. You don’t even have to wait that long. Maybe you’d prefer a spa weekend or a city break somewhere to start the New Year. Take advantage of the special offers around and plan something to look forward to that will keep some sunshine in your heart in this cold climate.

And, if the prospect of your first winter alone is daunting right now, do give me a call and I will help you to get it all into perspective so that you can get ready for the new you in the new year ahead.

Love Francine