HOW TO TAP INTO TOUCH
The mighty benefits of social contact: they’re at your fingertips – even if you’re alone
shower time USE SKINCARE TOOLS
Let equipment lend a hand to create a new touch sensation, such as body brushing in the shower, using a scalp massager or adding a jade roller into your beauty regime.
waking up MAKE A HOT COFFEE
Physical warmth triggers behaviours that are socially warm, as the brain’s insular cortex processes both physical temperature and interpersonal warmth (or trust). One study found that someone holding a hot coffee will rate other people as being more generous and caring than if they held an iced drink. Sitting in a warmer room also makes us feel closer social bonds with the people in the room versus being somewhere cold.
getting ready DRESS IN SOFT CLOTHES
‘Your skin is very sensitive to textures,’ explains Professor Field. That’s why an itchy woolly sweater is virtually impossible to ignore. Wearing a soft material you love the feel of, such as silk, cashmere or those comfy 10-year-old trackies you can’t let go, can create a moodboosting touch experience.
post-workout USE A FOAM ROLLER
Okay, so it might not be the most pleasurable sensation you’ve ever felt – unless torture’s your thing (no judgement) – but foam rollers offer an intense hit of sensory stimulation that can mirror the pressure of a real massage.
pleasure time ENGAGE IN SOLO SEX
Masturbation releases a cocktail of feel-good chemicals, such as dopamine and oxytocin, that the touch-deprived miss: it’s a known mood-booster, stressnixer and sleep-inducer. If you use a vibrator, play around with the speeds and vibration patterns to add an element of the unexpected to your repertoire-for-one.
bedtime INVEST IN A WEIGHTED BLANKET
The pressure from a weighted blanket (usually filled with glass or plastic beads) is designed to mimic a hug. The weight stimulates pressure receptors to produce a soothing effect that provides warmth (literal and emotional) and reduces anxiety. Choose one that’s around 5% to 10% of your body weight.