So, you want to connect with your partner?
Physical intimacy is a powerful tool for strengthening your relationship with your partner. However…
It’s an area where most couples struggle. In fact, most people don’t even realize that physical intimacy is more than just sex.
The reality is that it takes time, energy, and some vulnerability with your partner to build a deeper physical connection. The good news is…
When you get it right, it can change your relationship for the better.
In this guide, we will take a deep dive into physical intimacy with your partner and what you can do to enhance it. Let’s get started.
Topics we cover:
- What Physical Intimacy Really Means
- Why Communication Is Key
- Simple Ways To Build Intimacy In Your Relationship
- Creating The Environment For Connection
- Making Intimacy A Priority
What Physical Intimacy Really Means
Physical intimacy isn’t just about having sex.
In fact, there’s a lot more to it than that. Did you know: Physical intimacy includes all the ways you can connect with your partner using touch. This means:
- Holding hands
- Hugging
- Cuddling on the couch
- Kissing
- Massage
- Sexual Connection
All of the above are different ways of creating a bond with your partner. The more ways you explore physical intimacy, the stronger that bond is likely to be.
Want to level up your intimate moments with your partner? Have you ever wanted to enhance pleasure for yourself and your partner but don’t know where to start? If you’re interested in trying something new with your partner, but not sure where to begin or want an honest review, you might consider visiting Pleasure Me Now where they offer couples honest reviews to help you get started.
When was the last time you had a conversation about what intimacy looks like in your relationship? Truth is most couples never talk about this. They go along thinking they are both on the same page when in reality they could want different things entirely.
We’ve learned through research that emotional intimacy is a big reason why couples feel sexually satisfied with each other. This means that the emotional connection you build outside of the bedroom directly impacts what happens in it.
That’s kind of amazing, don’t you think?
Why Communication Is Key
Communication is at the heart of all great physical intimacy.
Without it, you will both just be winging it and hoping for the best. Guessing what the other person wants usually does not go well.
The thing is, your partner cannot read your mind. If you want something different or more connected then you have to speak up. The same is true for them.
Start simple conversations with your partner around:
- What helps you both feel connected
- What you enjoy
- What you don’t
- What you would like to try together
- When you both feel most relaxed and open
See, it doesn’t have to be a huge deal. In fact, the simpler and more honest you can be about these things the better.
Something we found kind of interesting… Just half of adults aged 18-44 years old report having sex at least weekly. You would think it was much higher, but the point is this: frequency does not equal quality connection. Connection is what really matters.
Simple Ways To Build Intimacy In Your Relationship
Building physical intimacy doesn’t have to be complicated.
In fact, there are a million little things you can do every day that will make a massive difference. Let me show you:
Begin with non-sexual touch. This is the first thing we have all overlooked when it comes to physical intimacy. When you make affection a priority throughout the day, you set the stage for intimacy to naturally blossom.
Try these ideas:
- Kiss your partner goodbye in the morning
- Hold hands when you are watching TV
- Give your partner a hug when they get home from work
- Touch their arm or shoulder when you are talking
- Cuddle on the couch before bed
Little touches like this add up. They are little ways you are telling your partner “I see you. I appreciate you. And I want to be close to you”, without any kind of pressure.
Another thing you can do is set aside dedicated time for physical connection. Now, this doesn’t mean scheduling sex in the calendar (although that can be effective for some couples). It means setting aside time and space for intimacy to happen.
A couple of ways you can do that:
- Date night at home with no distractions
- Couples massage
- Dancing in your living room
- Taking a bath together
- Going to bed at the same time
The key is, to be clear, is you both have to remove the distractions and be present with each other.
Creating The Environment For Connection
Environment makes a difference.
If your bedroom is a cluttered mess with piles of laundry and work stress on the table, it’s going to be hard to feel intimate with all of that stuff going on. You need to create an environment that is conducive to connection and relaxation.
What does that mean?
First, reduce distractions. Put your phones down. Turn off the TV. Close your laptops. When you are trying to connect with your partner, there should be nothing else vying for your attention.
Second, consider the atmosphere. Lighting, temperature, and comfort all make a difference. Soft lighting is more welcoming than overhead fluorescent lighting. A comfortable bed with fresh sheets feels more inviting than a lumpy couch. Small details like that matter more than you think.
Last but certainly not least is emotional safety. You can have the best physical environment but if you or your partner does not feel emotionally safe, intimacy is not going to happen. You can build this in many different ways:
- Listen without judgment
- Respect each other’s boundaries
- Be consistent and reliable
- Show appreciation regularly
- Meet each other’s needs
When your partner feels emotionally safe with you, they are much more likely to be vulnerable with you and open to deeper connection.
Making Intimacy A Priority
If you don’t make intimacy a priority it won’t happen.
It sounds so obvious but yet most couples fall into this trap. They think that since they are together that physical intimacy will naturally happen. Weeks, months go by and it doesn’t. Why? Because life happens.
Work, kids, responsibilities, social obligations all compete for your time and energy. If intimacy is not a priority, it just won’t happen.
The solution?
Schedule it! I know, I know. You might be thinking but… but that sounds so unromantic! The thing is this, when you prioritize something you make time for it. You do not have to schedule what it is, but you do have to schedule couple time when intimacy can happen.
Some people find that mornings work for them better than evenings. Other people prefer weekends when they are less stressed. Find what works for you and your partner and then protect that time.
Remember, intimacy is not just physical connection. It’s feeling connected to your partner in all areas of life. So when you build emotional intimacy through:
- Deep conversations
- Shared experiences
- Quality time
- Acts of service
- Words of affirmation
…the physical intimacy improves naturally as well.
Bottom Line
Exploring physical intimacy with your partner is a journey.
It takes effort, energy, and a willingness to understand each other’s needs and desires. But when you put that work in?
Your relationship will be so much better for it.
Start small and build from there. Have conversations about what intimacy looks like for you and your partner. Experiment with new ways to connect with each other without the pressure or expectations. Build an environment where both of you feel seen, heard, and valued.
Most important of all?
Show up consistently. Physical intimacy is not something you figure out one day and never have to work on again. It changes as your relationship changes. What worked 6 months ago might not work now and that’s okay.
Stay curious about your partner and be willing to communicate. Above all remember each and every couple is different. What works for them might not work for you and vice versa. The key is, find what works for you as a couple and build on that.
Your relationship is worth it.