Intimacy is a deep and affectionate feeling that defines attachment and closeness to a person. Here are a few ways to be intimate with your partner without having intercourse.
Intimacy is a deep and affectionate feeling that defines attachment and closeness to a person. It serves two main purposes: a trigger for sexual desire and to maintain a fulfilling and healthy relationship. A person can have an intimate relationship with their partner, family or friends.
Intimacy between couples often includes a sexual relationship. Being intimate with your partner, with or without sex, makes a significant contribution to improving relationship quality and resolving daily stress. It also improves partners’ well-being and health status, along with their satisfaction in sexual relationships.
However, if we skip the sexual relationship part, we may find that couples can be intimate with each other even without having intercourse and still develop a deeper connection and enjoy each other’s presence.
Here are a few ways to be intimate with your partner without having intercourse.
1. Touch each other
Too often, particularly in long-term relationships, we stop touching each other unless we want sex. Don’t let that happen! Make a point of touching your partner throughout the day. That could be kissing, hugs, stroking his cheek, even running your fingers through his hair. Then find opportunities for more intensive touching, such as giving each other massages. You will find that your entire body has erotic potential, and it is fun to explore each other’s bodies and find which areas provide pleasurable sensations and which do not. Then communicate this with each other.
2. Appreciate each other
Everyone enjoys a genuine moment of appreciation. Appreciating your partner helps celebrate good life experiences in your relationship and will let your partner know what you value about them the most.
3. Hold hands
Have you ever seen an older couple walking and holding hands? Didn’t it make you smile? You might think of holding hands as something for the early dating days but it’s a good way of maintaining closeness and intimacy throughout a relationship, even one that’s lasted decades.
4. Listening to your partner
Listening to your partner is more than just hearing them. It’s about sharing good memories as they help you get to know your partner better and gain a more intimate understanding of him/her/they. It will also demonstrate your love, respect and care for them.
5. Pretend you’re a new couple
Remember when you were just beginning to date and in love for the first time? The two of you may not have been able to keep your hands off each other, and maybe you weren’t having intercourse just yet. Re-create that feeling. Sit on the couch and make out, explore each other’s bodies through your clothes, pull away when things get too intense and then start over again.
6. Have “outercourse.”
You might not be having intercourse, but you can still enjoy orgasm. Explore other forms of stimulation. “Outercourse” is any form of sensual and sexual activity that does not involve the exchange of body fluids.
7. Keep talking
Sometimes silence between a couple can be a sign of comfort and closeness. Sometimes, however, it’s a sign that you have nothing left to say. Don’t let this happen to you. Keep talking to one another, not just about the everyday events, but about your thoughts and dreams and, of course, about how you’re feeling during this period of intimacy without intercourse. The day you stop sharing is the day you know things have taken a turn for the worse.
8. Giving surprises
A nice and unexpected way to express your love is always appreciated. Send flowers or surprise your partner by preparing their favourite food or take them to their favourite spot. These surprises will help create joyous memories for them, which is important for an intimate relationship.
9. Massage
Massage is good for both physical and mental wellbeing. It has many healing properties. Having a massage together or massaging one another tends to promote intimacy and a deep connection between the partners. This could be because of skin contact, the healing effect of massage and extra attention to the partner.