De-Stress Your Relationship

The Huffington Post recently published an article that discusses how you can use your relationship as a de-stressing tool. Seriously? We all usually think of relationships as a cause of stress, not a relief. However, the article talks about some behaviors that we can incorporate into our day-to-day to lower stress and improve our relationships simultaneously.

We're "pair bonders," says the article. It means we register those affectionate touches and physical contact from our partners as signs of affection and approval, thus lowering stress. We have higher levels of stress when we feel as if we're not "approved" or liked. So why not spend some time with your partner holding hands, snuggling on the couch and getting close? Add hugs back into your routine and hold hands. How often we forget to do these things? Well, stop forgetting! The article indicates that touch is one of the best stress relievers possible. Smiling also reduces cortisol, the stress hormone. Hey - smiling is easy, right?

You can also de-stress your relationship with eye contact, comforting words and kissing. This all seems kind of like a no-brainer, doesn't it? The essence of the article is that we should be using our relationships as points of de-stressing instead of origins of stress. If we took the time of out the day to focus on intimacy with our partners, including physical contact, verbal and non-verbal communication and simple acts of kindness, it offers two-way benefits: not only do we start spending more loving time with our partners (which improves our relationship) but we lower the stress in our life, making us a better partner through and through!

The article does warn, however, to engage in a period of more loving behavior for a period of three weeks, Longer could dampen the senses to these affectionate displays and negate the good vibes you're building. That's not to say you should switch to "mean." It's just a word of warning that too much of a good thing can indeed be too much!

You can read the entire article at the Huffington Post here.