Safe Hugging

One thing is for sure: there’s a shortage of hugs these days. Most of us are not getting our daily requirement of hugs.

When we hug…. the brain release oxytocin; when that happens, we feel pleasure, we feel warmth and a sense of safety.

Oxytocin is the hormone of love and connectedness and right now…

The world desperately needs that – more than ever before!

Let’s honor National Hugging Day by spreading some love during pandemic times: let’s try to find some creative ways to keep connected to each other and counteract the loss of human attachment that can lead to feelings of isolation and mental health issues,

There are a few things we could do to somehow make-up for some of this loss of human bonding: we can try to connect and bond in alternative ways by practicing the following Neuro-Tips to boost our oxytocin…

Neuro-Tip:

Mindfully yawn and slowly stretch three times prior to trying the following tips in order to be fully present and enhance your experience:

• Give your dog (or pet) a loving hug.
• Engage in Pillow-Hugging
• Solo-Hugging or Self-Embrace: give yourself a strong, heartfelt, loving hug.
• Give a Pinky-Embrace: engaging each other’s pinky fingers into a hook.
• Give an Elbow-Bump: quickly touching each other’s elbows.

We can be intentional and reach out to an old friend or family member that we have not seen for a while and try to re-connect, even if it is not in person or thru a physical hug.

• Give a Virtual Hug
• Send a message letting them know you are thinking about them.

And my favorite: why not schedule some quality time together to bond over soup, pasta or coffee via zoom or WhatsApp?

Other ways to attempt to interact:

• Making eye contact more deliberately with other people who we encounter, even at a six-foot distance, or…
• Engaging in small talk with strangers that we may encounter while waiting to pay for groceries, etc.

Keep in Mind Safe Hugging:

If you do hug another person, remember to follow the safety guidelines: wear your mask, face away from each other, hug sideways, etc.

To being safe,

Fanny 🙂