It's no news that female friendships are special. The bond that exists between a woman and her closest gal pals is unlike any of her other relationships – women nurture one another, and good girlfriends can be an unparalleled source of strength in times of stress or turmoil.

Unfortunately, during moments of crisis we sometimes push our relationships with our female friends to the back-burner. When life gets crazy, the first thing we tend to let go is our friendships with other women – maybe because we figure that they, of all people, will understand.

Studies show this to be a big mistake. Researchers from UCLA have found that gathering around your girlfriends can actually chemically counteract the harmful effects of stress. When a woman is under pressure, calm-inducing chemicals released in her brain may actually cause her to seek and nurture relationships with other women. This "tend and befriend" reaction is the female equivalent of the "fight or flight" response, and a survival mechanism you may want to keep in mind the next time you're feeling overwhelmed.

Maintain your female friendships by keeping a weekly date with your girlfriends. Get together for a couple of happy hour cocktails after work, grab a cup of coffee together every Saturday afternoon, or meet for brunch on a weekend morning à la Sex and the City.

Whether you're a single siren or just need a short break from coupledom, this weekend gather your favourite females for a few precious hours of girls-only fun. Because when it comes to life, love, and the daily ups and downs of the modern woman, no one gets you quite like your closest girlfriends.