3 BENEFITS OF NAKED CUDDLING

When was the last time you and your spouse took off all your clothes just to cuddle?

Cuddling naked can seem like a simple act of connection, but the benefits affect your marriage in many ways—from emotional intimacy to sexual intimacy and beyond.

It’s time to examine how you and your spouse connect on a physical level. You might find that naked cuddling is what you’ve been missing.

What is Naked Cuddling?

Naked cuddling is an intentional time of physical intimacy (closeness and connection through non-sexual touch) with your spouse. Step one: get naked. Step two: cuddle.

It goes beyond simple cuddling, which can happen when you’re fully clothed. It’s also different from sleeping naked, which may lead to some loving touches but little to no conversation.

There’s something special about getting naked with your spouse just to cuddle. Naked cuddling boosts physical intimacy as you and your spouse share non-sexual touches.

The Importance of Physical Intimacy

Physical intimacy is the closeness and connection created through your loving touch. It’s non-sexual touches, like holding hands, kissing, cuddling, and any other meaningful physical contact.

Physical intimacy is one of The 6 Pillars of Intimacy®. They’re all connected, so physical intimacy (or the lack thereof) will affect pillars such as your emotional and sexual intimacy.

3 Benefits of Naked Cuddling

Your skin is your body’s largest organ. When you and your spouse are cuddling naked, you’re receiving the benefits of skin-to-skin contact and physical connection, which can improve your health, strengthen your bond, and more.

1. Increased Oxytocin and Decreased Cortisol

Naked cuddling has several health benefits. First, it leads to increased levels of oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone.” Oxytocin can make you feel happier and more connected to your spouse. It lowers pain symptoms and can help you better deal with stress.

Second, cuddling nude decreases cortisol, your body’s stress hormone.

When cortisol levels are high, the body enters “fight or flight” mode, leading to high blood pressure, headaches, decreased immunity, and more.

Skin-to-skin connection with your spouse is a natural way to lower cortisol levels, decrease stress, and boost your immune system.

2. Stronger Physical Intimacy

Your body and your spouse’s body are designed for touch.

Beyond health benefits, skin-to-skin contact can boost feelings of safety, security, and belonging. Physical intimacy brings a sense of peace.

Without physical intimacy, you can fall into the trap of roommate syndrome, where you live in the same home as your spouse and share responsibilities, but you lack the loving touches of a husband and wife.

To break the cycle of roommate syndrome, you have to prioritize connection with your spouse. Naked cuddling might be your first step.

When you are cuddling naked with your spouse, you’re being vulnerable. This vulnerability leads to deeper connection and stronger physical intimacy.

3. Opportunities to Strengthen the Other 6 Pillars of Intimacy®

Cuddling naked with your spouse strengthens your physical intimacy, but since all of The 6 Pillars of Intimacy® connect, it can also strengthen other areas of your marriage.

For example, cuddling naked can be a time for you and your spouse to be fully present with each other. As you cuddle, you can deepen your emotional intimacy through conversation. You can communicate your feelings, thoughts, and desires.

Another benefit is that it can sometimes lead to sexual intimacy.

The physical and emotional connection forged by cuddling naked can set the stage for sex. Afterward, you might continue to engage in naked cuddling.

What’s Keeping You From Cuddling Naked?

As with cuddling or sleeping naked, there are plenty of reasons you might think that cuddling nude won’t work for you.

“I don’t have the time.”

Perhaps you feel you don’t have the time to take off your clothes and cuddle with your spouse. If that’s the case, you have to find the time.

Physical intimacy is crucial in marriage. Your connection with your spouse is worth 15 minutes of naked cuddling. How can you incorporate it to work best for you?

Maybe you need to sleep naked to spend a few minutes cuddling before you go to sleep or right when you wake up. Alternatively, you can remove your clothes for a mid-day cuddle session with your spouse.

Your physical intimacy is worth the time and effort of getting undressed to cuddle.

“It’s too hot or too cold.” 

Temperature is a common reason people don’t want to cuddle with their spouse. Cuddling might feel too hot. Taking off your clothes and being naked might make you too cold. Whichever temperature is causing you to avoid cuddling naked, find a solution.

If you get too hot cuddling, turn on a fan or take a cold shower before to cool down. If you are too cold to get naked, turn on the heat or add a space heater to your room. There are plenty of solutions at your fingertips!

“I’m upset with my spouse and don’t want to touch them.”

When you face challenges in your emotional, financial, spiritual, recreational, or sexual intimacy, you might think it’s normal to dismiss physical intimacy.

But ignoring the issue can create cracks in all pillars of intimacy, including physical intimacy. When one pillar is weak, it can weaken the others.

Addressing cracks in your 6 Pillars of Intimacy® is vital. If you are struggling to make progress, it may be time to apply for marriage coaching to get personal help.

“It’s painful and uncomfortable.” 

Many couples deal with medical conditions that make physical intimacy a challenge. Immobility and pain can create obstacles to something like cuddling.

Even for healthy individuals, certain cuddling positions can cause limbs to go numb or ache.

It’s important to seek solutions that work for you.

Consider various positions or locations where cuddling naked might be more comfortable. Try using pillows or wedges.

Each body and marriage is different, but physical intimacy remains essential.

Make Cuddling Naked a Priority

You must take action to create an extraordinary marriage.

If naked cuddling isn’t part of your physical intimacy toolbox, consider adding it today.

Talk with your spouse about when and how to incorporate it into your marriage. Discuss any concerns or obstacles. Seek solutions and try new things.

Naked cuddling can lead to more conversation, deeper intimacy, and better sex. Give it a try! It might just become your new favorite thing.