A hug with someone you care about has many positive effects. I'll get to them a bit further down, first some personal reflection on the subject.
Before my husband and I had children, we hugged each other every morning in the kitchen of our villa in Gävle. Not just a second but a relatively long hug of about 5-10 seconds. A cozy and good start to the day that we will definitely take up again. For some reason, the hug has been out of priority for other "musts" in the morning.
I actually have 10 seconds of hugging time left for both my husband and my child in the morning.
There are lots of hug-friendly facts on the subject:
- A hug can be important for maintaining and strengthening human relationships. It provides a sense of closeness and togetherness.
- When we hug, the hormone oxytocin is often triggered in our bodies. Oxytocin is sometimes called the 'love hormone' or 'attachment hormone' because it is linked to feelings of trust, intimacy and affection.
- A hug can reduce stress and lower the heart rate and reduce the release of stress hormones such as cortisol.
- More emotions in one action. Hugs can be a way to show joy, comfort, compassion, sympathy and love.
- Hugs are often used as part of social interactions and rituals, such as greeting someone or saying goodbye. They can be part of everyday social interaction.
- A hug can strengthen relationships, build trust and make people feel closer to each other.
There are many benefits to taking the time to hug, especially in the morning and preferably after work. Not a half-hearted one-second hug, but a genuine one, where hearts meet and there is time to de-stress and feel that wonderful feeling that a hug with our loved ones can bring.
So come on, let's hug a little extra this fall and then we'll hear from you later to evaluate how it felt!
Important to remember, a hug should always be given with consent and respect.
Cecilia, CEO and co-founder of Aima Sense