When walking in the morning with my friend, Pat, we always start and end with a hug. For a long time, I have thought that it's good to have at least five hugs a day for good mental health.
It does make you smile to give and get a hug. But there are other benefits!
According to Virginia Satir, a family therapist, "We need four hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth."*
From a variety of studies, hugs have been known to lower blood pressure and balance your body in terms of increasing good hormones and reducing bad hormones which leads to an improvement in health.
Try This: Do Your Body Good - Set a Hug Goal
Consider adding a conscious effort to hug more this week. Here are ideas:
- Set a hug goal for each day.
- Get starter hugs each day from family or friends.
- Stretch with added hugs with pets like your dog or cat.
- For more hugs, find a hug buddy at work or in your neighborhood.
- Simply hug yourself by wrapping your arms across your chest.
Having a hug goal is a fun and healthy way to enjoy your day. I love doing good for my body and uplifting my mood with this easy habit. And, sure makes me smile when hugging my hubby, daughter, family, and friends.