Continuing our current blog and vlog series, our Family Nurse Practitioner, Sarah, is addressing the topics you may not have learned about in health class, and answering the awkward questions so you don’t have to! Today we’re discussing how couples can feel intimate without sex.

There are many reasons you may be exploring ways to connect that don’t involve intercourse. Maybe you have not had sex yet and are looking for other ways to express connection. Maybe someone has been ill or injured, or you’re pregnant/postpartum and you need to take things easy for a temporary period. Maybe there is past trauma present. Maybe you have specific moral or religious stances on sexual activity. Or maybe… you just don’t feel like it. All of which are perfectly okay!

Intimacy means a strong connection built from trust, and the happiest of couples have intimacy in a variety of ways! This is because intimacy without sex has many benefits for your relationship, such as

  • Deepening emotional connection
  • Improving communication
  • Reducing pressure

If you’re looking for ideas for building intimacy in your relationship, here are some options you can consider!

ideas for intimacy without touching:
  • Cooking together
  • Teaching one another a new skill
  • Doing something adrenaline boosting (indoor skydiving, ziplining, paintballing, surfing, etc.)
  • Working through an escape room
  • Engaging in deep conversation
  • If you practice a faith, praying together
  • Discussing topics that interest you both
  • Playing board games, cards, or video games together
  • Planning a dream vacation
  • Starting a new, shared hobby
  • Getting up in the middle of the night to watch shooting stars together
  • Having a picnic
  • Doing a 5k
  • Getting outside for a hike
 ideas for intimacy with touching*:
  • Snuggling with a book or a shared movie or show
  • Giving one another a massage
  • Holding hands
  • Dancing
  • Kissing

*For physical intimacy, make sure to discuss boundaries in advance and come up with a plan for staying in those boundaries, so that you don’t end up going further than either party is comfortable with.