What 6-second Kiss And 20-second Hug Rules Are

In today’s fast-paced life, we are constantly trying to keep our professional and personal relationships on track. Both are interdependent to each other and can impact both fronts. Every relationship has several ups and downs. People are always eager to find shortcuts even in dating and relationships. They adopt several hacks to keep their relationship strong and happy. In such a situation, there are two rules which are widely believed to be responsible for increasing love in the relationship. It is called the 6-Second Kissing Rule and 20-Second Hugging Rule. Under the former, the couple should kiss each other for six seconds while the hug should last for 20 seconds, renowned psychiatrist Dr. Sagar Mudhra said.

The 6-second kiss rule was coined by John Gottman, a marriage and family therapist, author and researcher who co-founded The Gottman Institute with his wife, clinical psychologist Julie Schwartz Gottman. He determined through surveys and studies that small gestures to show love throughout the day have a major impact on a couple’s long-term happiness and success. The 6-second rule has numerous benefits.

Increase in Oxytocin

Oxytocin hormone is released during kissing. This increases mutual trust, connection and affection between the couple. Gottman says that this 6-second rule doesn’t mean that a person does not need to count the time in their hand but should make sure that people connect in a meaningful way every day.

Reduction in Stress

When you kiss your partner for about 6 seconds, the hormone responsible for stress i.e. cortisol can be reduced. This makes you feel more calm and happy. It helps in strengthening the relationship. Long kissing deepens the emotional connection.

20-second Hug Rule

The 20-second hug rule is that whenever you hug your partner, hug for at least 20 seconds. This will have positive benefits in your relationship. It will also help in increasing the oxytocin levels in your body similar to kissing. When you hug your partner for a long time, blood pressure also decreases.

Hugging your partner for a long time also gives you psychological benefits. This gives your partner a feeling of security and support. This reduces mental stress and increases emotional stability. Regular and long hugs can strengthen the immune system. Expressing your love to your partner from time to time not only gives you emotional benefits but it is also very important for your physical and mental health.