5 Simple Self-Care Practices to Try If Your Love Language Is Physical Touch

Have you ever wondered about your love language? These are the ways in which we express and experience our love for each other. While some people appreciate quality time with others, some prefer receiving gifts or acts of service.

But love languages aren't just handy in your relationships with other people. They can also be insightful when it comes to developing your relationship with yourself.

If your love language is physical touch, for example, you'd rather receive a kiss or a cuddle than kind words or a little gift. But you don't have to hug someone else or hold their hand to benefit from this. Here's how you can practice self-care that suits your love language.

Give Yourself a Massage

You don't have to spend a ton of money, or even find a willing participant, to ease your aching body or smooth out tension when you're feeling stressed or upset. Read into massage techniques and practice massaging your hands, arms, shoulders, legs and feet to find out what works best for you and gets you feeling tip-top in no time. Use your favorite scented lotions to make an entire spa-like experience out of it. There are also rollers for hard-to-reach areas like the back. You just might be surprised by how much good a simple massage will do you.

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Hug Someone

While COVID makes this one a little bit tougher, chances are that you live with a parent or sibling who wouldn't turn away a free hug if you asked politely. When we hug, our brains naturally release a chemical called oxytocin, which contributes to greater happiness, and less stress—which could definitely contribute to why physical touch is such a common love language. And remember that you can be the one to initiate the hug, and it still counts as self-care. The hug-ee might appreciate it, too.

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Bathe With a Bath Bomb

It's been said that the reason human beings love warm baths is that they simulate sunlight or the touch of another person on the skin, releasing natural endorphins that relieve stress. Just because you're not actually receiving a physical touch doesn't mean that you can't convince your brain that you are. Add in a luxurious bath bomb, which will fill your senses as well as leaving your skin silky and hydrated, and you have a recipe for amazing self-care.

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Exercise

Many people whose love language is physical touch crave personal human contact because of the feel-good hormones it releases within the body. But if you're all on your own, there are other ways to activate them, and one of the best and healthiest ways is through exercise. Not only can running around and getting your body moving lessen the physical pain you feel in your body, but it's also great for fighting stress.

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Dance

Don't exactly feel like breaking a sweat? If you can take it easy on yourself, you can get similar results from moving your body in the form of dance. In fact, in some cases, it can be even more effective, and with the addition of your favorite kind of music, you can dance yourself to happiness in no time at all.

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Love these tips? Click HERE for some more practices to try if quality time is another one of your love languages.