Do you sometimes feel like you want to be touched more? Or, maybe your partner’s love language is physical touch but you’re not sure how to touch them beyond, you know, kissing and sex. For a strong relationship with your partner, it’s important to stay intimate with multiple kinds of physical affection. Here are some of the best ways to touch your partner that will make them crazy for you again.
- Hold hands while you walk. What could be more romantic than holding hands with your partner as you both go for a beautiful stroll in the cool of the evening? Even if you hold hands while walking across the Target parking lot, the act of holding hands is a great way to touch your partner. It makes both of you feel happy, protected, and secure. Plus, if you’re going for a winter walk, it will help your hands stay warm longer!
- Hug them for no reason. Hugs are sometimes overlooked in favor of more intimate touches like kissing, making out, and sex. But hugs are able to cultivate trust, warmth, and security between you and your partner. If you’re not sure where to start, cozy up to your S.O. on the couch or give them a hug before he goes to work. You can also ask for a hug when you need it. Random hugs from behind are good too.
- Give them a gentle kiss on the forehead. Nothing says “I cherish and adore you” quite like a soft forehead kiss. Some people theorize about the psychology behind different kinds and frequencies of kisses. It’s generally accepted that a forehead kiss is a gesture of caring and protecting someone. (Are you starting to notice a pattern here? A lot of nonsexual touch that your partner craves is related to protecting and trust.) When you kiss your partner on the forehead, you’re saying, “You’re special to me.” And of course, make sure to mix it up with…
- Deliver a peck on the lips. If you and your partner only kiss when you’re making out or “doing the deed,” that’s probably a good sign that you need more physical touch in your relationship. One way to accomplish that is by giving them a quick peck on the lips, at least once every day. Remember, you don’t need to get sloppy with tongues and all that. You want to introduce (or re-introduce) the habit of nonsexual intimacy into your relationship. Save the hot and passionate kissing for later. You can give your partner a quick kiss right after they get home from work, while you’re both in the kitchen cooking together, or whenever you want to let them know how much you love them.
- Play with their hair. Especially if your partner is a man, chances are, nobody really takes the time to touch their hair. All the more reason for you to do it! One way to do this is to have your partner lay their head in your lap. Or, you can reach up and brush your fingers through their hair. This is a nice way to touch them at the end of a long day. If your partner likes to style their hair a certain way, this is definitely something you’ll want to save until they get home from work so you don’t mess up their style. And if you don’t know exactly where to start touching their hair, start by pushing it back from their face. This little gesture is a great way to start and feel out if your partner is comfortable having their hair touched.
- Have a pillow fight or a playful wrestling match. Even if it sounds a little immature, having a pillow fight or wrestling with your partner is a great way to touch each other, without making it seem like a big deal. Plus, everyone needs to relieve stress now and then. You know you did it right if you can’t keep going because you’re laughing too hard.
- Rub their shoulders. A quick shoulder massage can make your partner’s day. It helps loosen their muscles, which makes them feel calmer and less stressed. Plus, it also works as a reminder that you love them so much, you noticed that they looked a little tense, so you took some time to give them a shoulder massage. Plus, what better way to say “I care about you” than to help someone de-stress and relax? It doesn’t have to be a pressure massage, just rub your thumbs in a gentle, circular motion over their shoulders. If your partner had a rough day, or if you just feel like giving them some extra love, you could also give them a scalp or temple rub while you let them vent about their day. This will make your partner feel seen, heard, and loved, as well as thankful for you.
- Dance together. It doesn’t matter if you prefer to slow dance or Argentine tango. What matters is that you do it together. Turn on some music and turn it into a dance party. Invite your partner to come dance with you. Even if you don’t know how to dance, just holding your partner and moving together is a deeply intimate experience that will help strengthen your relationship and make them crazy for you. At the end of the song, you can go back to what you were doing beforehand, or you and your partner might decide to dance to another song. After the song ends, pull your partner in for a kiss.
- Put your hand on their leg. While you and your partner are sitting next to each other, at the movies, or in the car, try putting your hand on their leg. If it’s been a while since you touched each other like this, maybe start by putting one hand on their knee. If you’d like to get a little flirty, rub your hand on their thigh. This is a great way to build closeness and intimacy as a couple. The hand on the leg is a gentle touch, but it’s oh so effective.