Structured Intimate Habits and Relationship Satisfaction
What are Structured Intimate Habits?
A structured intimate habit is a regular practice that involves physical touching, kissing, or sexual activity between partners to express love, affection, gratitude, or appreciation for one another. They can take place in different ways - from small gestures like holding hands, hugging, cuddling, caressing, massaging, or stroking each other's hair, to more elaborate ones such as having regular sex sessions, engaging in roleplaying games, trying out new positions or locations for lovemaking, using props or accessories during intercourse, etc.
Why do they matter?
Sexual desire is an important aspect of any romantic relationship because it helps couples stay connected physically and emotionally.
Many factors can affect this crucial element of a relationship, including stress levels, communication issues, work demands, childcare responsibilities, financial problems, health conditions, or personal traumas. This is where structured intimate habits come into play – by creating predictable rituals for intimacy and pleasure, they help maintain and sustain passion and intimacy over time.
The science behind them
Research has shown that regular intimacy boosts oxytocin levels (the 'love hormone') in both partners involved in the act, leading to increased feelings of attachment and bonding. It also reduces cortisol (stress hormones), resulting in lower anxiety levels and better mood regulation. Plus, it increases dopamine release (pleasure chemical) during sexual arousal and orgasm, which improves overall well-being and satisfaction with life.
Touch therapy (e.g., massage) releases serotonin and endorphins in the body, providing a calming effect and reducing depression symptoms.
Structured Intimate Habits and Emotional Attunement
Emotional attunement involves understanding and sharing one another's emotions while being fully present and engaged in conversations or activities. When couples practice structured intimate habits regularly, they become more emotionally aware of their partner's needs, desires, and preferences, fostering a deeper connection and emotional closeness. Moreover, these routines provide an opportunity for open communication about what works best for each person individually and as a couple regarding physical affection and intimacy.
How to create Structured Intimate Habits?
To build successful structured intimate habits, couples should:
1. Set goals – define clear intentions for their routine (e.g., how often it will happen, where, when, etc.)
2. Be consistent - make sure to stick to the plan and follow through with regularity
3. Tailor them to individual needs and preferences
4. Experiment with new things and positions
5. Communicate honestly and respectfully
6. Adjust if necessary
7. Use props/accessories
By implementing structured intimate habits into their relationship, partners can maintain sexual desire, relational satisfaction, and emotional attunement over time. These practices promote oxytocin release, reduce stress levels, increase feelings of attachment, boost pleasure hormones, enhance communication skills, and deepen emotional connections.
How do structured intimate habits maintain sexual desire, relational satisfaction, and emotional attunement?
In most cases, couples who have developed structured intimacy habits find that they are more satisfied with their sex life than those who have not. Structured intimacy habits provide predictability, consistency, and structure, which help to keep the relationship going strong and avoid boredom or dissatisfaction. Research suggests that structured intimacy can also improve communication between partners, leading to greater understanding and empathy.