How long should you hug your partner? Expert shares 3 small habits that can transform your intimacy

To spruce up your sex life, you don't need something grand or extravagant plans to impress. Sometimes, it's the little things that make the biggest difference. Small, quiet and meaningful practices can solidify your bond, and when done consistently, can transform intimacy between you and your partner.

On The Mel Robbins Podcast, sex therapist Vanessa Marin shared 3 things that change your sex life. She also shared the most effective time duration for hugging your partner.

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Gratitude

Gratitude goes a long way and helps support your love life, too. Taking a moment to acknowledge what you value in your partner is beneficial. It may seem small, but it can have a ripple effect of trust and a deeper connection.

Vanessa shared, “First one gratitude, which you might not expect but research has shown that gratitude is actually the number one predictor of marital satisfaction and we talked earlier about how emotional and physical intimacy are really deeply intertwined so if we want to feel closer to our partner gratitude is the fastest thing that you can do, it's literally a few seconds to say I appreciate this about you, I saw that you did that. Thank you so much for this.”

Physical contact

Everyone knows physical touch is one of the love languages, but is there a special time frame for it? How long should you hug or kiss to truly capture that moment of connection? Vanessa revealed the exact time frame.

The sex therapist said,"Second thing is some form of physical contact with each other. We talked a lot about non-physical touch, it's so important to have that non-sexual touch. And in particular, I like 6 6-second kiss and a 20-30-second hug. We actually have research showing that those are the specific time frames it takes for our body to release oxytocin, the bonding hormone, the trust hormone, which makes us feel close to each other."

Eye contact

Locking your eyes with your partner, even for a few moments, can help you feel seen. Vanessa explained the power of eye contact in relationships.

She said, “Third thing eye contact. It is wild how few couples make eye contact with each other. And I think that there is no greater tragedy than being in a long-term relationship with somebody but feeling literally emotionally unseen by them. You can do those three things in under a minute, every single day, and those will make such a big impact on your sex life.”

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Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice.