How Many Hugs Do You Need a Day? 8 Surprising Benefits of Hugs

Inside: How many hugs do you need a day? What are the benefits of hugs? And how a 20-second hug might just be the ticket to a happier life!

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Hugging is one of those cool things that are appropriate for any occasion…

…or any feeling: think happy, sad, excited.

And it turns out that hugging is proven (yes, scientifically) to make us healthier and happier.

So let me ask you — how many hugs are you getting a day?

How Many Hugs Do You Need A Day?

There is a famous saying by Virginia Satir, a family therapist, 

“We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”

Virginia Satir

When you think about your family and your interactions, do eight hugs seem like a lot to you?

I decided to ask my son how many hugs he would like to receive a day. He is seven and a total cool guy right now, so of course, he said negative 2.

But I keep reminding him we need 8 to 12 hugs and that negative two won’t cut it, and this usually results in me chasing him around, trying to get my arms around him.

Secretly, I know he likes it!

Side note: Since my son was three, we’ve been practicing mindfulness, and we play this mindfulness game we call Polar Bear Hug Time, where we stop what we are doing and hug tightly for 20 seconds.

If you love mindfulness exercises for kids, then check out Mighty Mindful Kids (40 fun & simple mindfulness activities for kids ages 2 to 10)

Benefits of Hugging

Here’s the thing:

With social distancing, technology, and working from home, most of us are likely running low on hugs. We need physical touch! There are so many benefits of a hug!

When we give or receive a proper deep hug, we feel a sense of safety, our stress levels decrease, and it’s a powerful way to increase our social support.

Yes, a simple hug can do all this!

Believe it or not, this lack of human contact is causing a lot of mental health concerns. Let’s dive deeper into all the numerous benefits of hugs below!

So, let’s boost our oxytocin levels naturally and get to all the hugalicious goodness below.

Please note: This is not medical advice.

8 Reasons Our Kids Need Hugs (And Us Too) (Benefits of Hugs)

1. Hugs help us feel safe

We all want to feel safe and secure, especially children; in fact, children need to feel emotionally secure, and hugging is the perfect way to help them fill this bucket.

Simply hugging our brain produces soothing chemicals that actually help us feel safe and less threatened. Amazing!

Have you ever been upset and had someone take the time to hug you? You just melt into them. Hugs are soothing and powerful simultaneously (be sure to hold your hug for as long as you can – more on that below).

2. Hugs are a natural stress reliever

When we have physical contact with others, a chemical called oxytocin is released into our brains.

This is the love drug.

It’s well known to reduce anxiety and depression. So hug your child as much as possible and watch the stress melt away.

Hugging also relieves muscle tension, which is a win-win all around.

3. Hugs give us confidence

Hugs reassure everyone that they are loved. They are emotional reinforcement of our value to others, which helps to increase self-esteem, boost confidence, and bloom a growth mindset.

And here’s the good news:

These positive associations stay with kids into adulthood.

4. Hugs dissolve anger and anxiety

Sometimes, little kids have trouble controlling their big emotions (we do, too); there is something about a hug that helps reset our bodies and minds.

Sometimes, when my child is upset, hurt, or agitated, I’ll simply hug him until he relaxes. If he tries to pull away, I keep hugging him. I feel his muscles release, and he sinks into it.

We are decreasing cortisol (the stress hormone) and increasing oxycontin (the love hormone) WIN-WIN.

5. Hugs help you feel connected

In this digital era, it’s not unusual to feel disconnected from others (including our kids)

Well, a nice long hug helps us feel connected to each other, and countless studies have shown that hugs promote security in relationships.

Sometimes, when my son has been on his iPad (for too long), and I feel like he’s disconnected from the world, I’ll sit down beside him and hug him to bring him back into the present moment and out of the digital world that’s engulfed him.

6. Hugs are kind

Hugs are free, so give ’em away!

It feels SO good to hug someone in need, knowing that you are helping improve their day. Embracing out of kindness also teaches empathy and helps kids live in the present moment.

When you give love, you get love. Hugs ultimately teach kids that they have a part in helping others feel good.

7. Hugs keep us healthy

It’s true. Hugging can actually make us healthier.

Did you know hugging puts pressure on our sternum, which stimulates the thymus gland, which helps regulate our production of white blood cells?

This improves our immune system. It also allows our body to stay in the rest mode (parasympathetic nervous system) and keeps us out of flight or fight.

So yes, hugs actually keep us healthy and fight off invaders.

8. Hugs just make us happy

This is simple, why not do something that feels so good and makes everyone happy?

Hugs benefit you and me. They help the day’s stress wash away and leave us living in the present moment.

The Bottom Line on The Benefits of Hugs

• Hugs are amazing for all aspects of our health. Mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical.
• Now, more than ever, our kids need hugs!
• Now more than ever, we need hugs.
• Aim to get 8-12 hugs a day (and hold them for 20 seconds).

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