Cuddle Up Day falls on January 6. It has a reason. Since this month has some of the coldest temperatures of the year, there is an excuse to warm up by cuddling with people, your near and dear ones.

Moreover, cuddling releases oxytocin, which produces plenty of fuzzy and warm feelings along with some health benefits, including reducing pain.

Besides comforting for the body, it is also helpful for the mind as cuddling releases dopamine — a chemical in the brain that helps improve memory and focus.

According to research, oxytocin reduces the chances of blood pressure, heart disease and anxiety.

Therefore, cuddling or a hug can be a great form of stress relief besides being enjoyable. It also helps mothers bond with their babies.

For adults, it can boost desire as hugs release dopamine asking one’s body to seek pleasure. However, cuddling doesn’t have to be between romantic partners.

Likewise, experiment results have also shown that when people received a hug and got into an argument the other day, they experienced a more stable mood compared to when they hadn’t received a hug the day before.

Cuddling isn’t just good for making you feel all cozy and snug. In fact, it’s also been proven to benefit people’s mental and physical health.

According to a study by Dr. Michael Murphy from the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, hugging or cuddling can light up one’s day and make conflicts significantly more bearable.

Researchers have also found that volunteers in an experiment felt happier on days when they had been given at least one cuddle or a hug. If people had received a hug every day, it tended to cause much less of a negative impact on the people’s mood.

Likewise, experiment results have also shown that when people received a hug and got into an argument the other day, they experienced a more stable mood compared to when they hadn’t received a hug the day before.

In a study conducted by the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, researchers found that human touch could reduce brain activity in the area related to stress. This helped in increasing activities in the area related to pleasant feelings.

It has numerous health benefits since besides giving the ability to keep people warm on chilly mornings and evenings while releasing oxytocin and dopamine in our bodies, also releases dopamine having positive effects on memory and the ability to focus.

Cuddling with a person enhances one’s bond with the other person. This will help increase feelings of comfort, trust, safety, and reassurance between cuddle partners.

The month of January can be great to start exercising the cuddle strategies to stay balanced and warm.
Sore and cold muscles, and tired joints can also benefit from the release of oxytocin, according to research.

Moreover, this hormone helps in reducing the effects of anxiety while lowering blood pressure naturally.

Cuddling up when one sleeps can give a sensation of touch reassuring a person that one can relax and get some well-deserved rest while boosting one’s immunity.

Research has also shown that cuddling or hugging makes people likely to get sick.

According to a study, apart from the social support that hugging can create, it helped in making people stronger.

Besides reducing stress, cuddling with the pets can also be bonding through touch. Perhaps, you may have noticed your pets — cats or dogs — rubbing against you. It is because pets, too, look forward to your hug to squeeze the remaining air out of their lungs.

Cuddling with a person enhances one’s bond with the other person. This will help increase feelings of comfort, trust, safety, and reassurance between cuddle partners.