John Mayer's dating break

It's hard to enjoy the holiday spirit amid recent news of national tragedy. It's a catastrophe serious enough to reap social, political and financial consequences.

John Mayer is taking a break from dating.

Go ahead, take a moment to sob.

Call me inhuman, but the announcement doesn't do much for me. I've always considered the singer kind of disgusting. And as many of my friends accurately observe, he bears an uncanny resemblance to Frankenstein.

Still, the news raises an interesting relationship issue: the dating break.

You've seen it happen: After severing ties with her loser boyfriend, your friend boldly declares, "I need to be single for a couple months." The next weekend, she's gushing about her new hookup buddy.

I'm totally in favor of the dating break. It can be a good chance to recharge, especially if you've fallen into the trap of serial dating.

But if you're going to take The Break, you have to follow some rules. I recommend these tips:

1. Decide if you're taking a break from "dating" or "hooking up." Or both. There's a clear difference.

2. Set a realistic time frame. Vowing to not associate with anyone of the opposite sex for a year is a recipe for failure.

3. If you find yourself simply counting down the days until your break ends, stop.

A break is supposed to be a time for enjoying the virtues of singledom. If you can't savor the joy of watching "Teen Mom" alone in your underwear, you're not cut out for the Break Experience.

Thoughts?