National Cuddle Up Day

Each year on January 6th, National Cuddle Up Day encourages us to snuggle up with someone for the health benefits and more!

January typically features some of the coldest days of the year, so what better way to stay warm and reap the health benefits of cuddling on National Cuddle Up Day? Whether temps are below zero or only slightly chilly, there are multiple benefits to cuddling with a loved one, dog, or other pet.

By nature, humans are very social. Research has found that social ties and bonding is very important not only to wellness, but health, including emotional, physical, and mental. Cuddling is an important social activity that creates strong bonds.

Cuddling releases oxytocin. This hormone alone has tremendous health benefits. Besides giving us warm and fuzzy feelings, oxytocin reduces pain. So when the cold has made those muscles and joints ache, cuddling can help reduce those aches and pains. Oxytocin also helps relieve stress. Stress is tied to many chronic conditions and prolonged stress is harmful for to your health. Regularly getting enough oxytocin from cuddling can help reduce heart disease, lowers blood pressure, stress, and anxiety. If it weren’t free, insurance carriers would probably cover cuddling since it’s such a huge health benefit! Cuddling also releases dopamine — a chemical in the brain that helps improve focus and memory.

Communication is more than just e-mails, texts, or conversation. Physical touch can communicate trust, commitment, safety, and reassurance. This goes for human to human contact as well as human to pet contact. Cuddling expresses all these things, which are vital to a healthy relationship. If you live on your own or do not have a significant other, you can still benefit from cuddling! There is nothing like cuddling up with a pet while watching a movie. You can get the same benefits from cuddling with your pet dog or cat as you do with another human. Even holding hands with someone is a form of affectionate touch, which you can do with a family member or loved one.

Cuddling with someone enhances your bond with that person. Even if you’re not verbally communicating, this type of contact helps increase feelings of trust, comfort, safety, and reassurance between cuddle partners. These feelings can also remain long after the cuddle session is over. It is so important that when babies are not cuddled enough, it is harmful for their health. Cuddling is a natural thing, and it is good for you in every way.

Don’t have someone to cuddle up with? Make an appointment for a massage. Studies show massage provides similar benefits. A soothing, comforting massage can relieve stress as well as stimulate blood flow, alleviate muscle cramps and soreness, and help heal muscles, as well as soothe the mind and spirit.

So today, on National Cuddle Up Day, do just that, and find someone to cuddle up with! Or, use this opportunity to learn about the many health benefits of cuddling and adopting a pet or even just getting a massage, haircut, or manicure. The point is, treat yourself to the healing effects of touch! Private Home Health Care encourages cuddles!