Today is National Hugging Day! Here are Six Easy Ways to Celebrate
Everything in January can feel a little farther apart. The days are shorter. The air is colder. Everyone is bundled up, busy, and most likely counting down to spring (but not me!). It’s the month where connection can feel harder, even when you’re surrounded by people you love.
Which is why I kind of love that National Hugging Day falls right in the middle of it all.
Not because we need another made-up holiday, but because January could genuinely use a reminder to soften!
And so I couldn’t help but wonder: when life feels heavy and cold, can something as simple as a hug really make a difference?
First, a gentle reminder: hugs actually matter
This isn’t just sentimentality talking, I promise.
There’s real science behind hugging. Physical touch can lower stress, reduce cortisol, and increase oxytocin, the hormone associated with bonding and calm. In other words, hugs tell your nervous system: you’re safe.
And in January, safety and warmth go a long way.
Hug the people you see every day (just a little longer)
This is the easiest place to start:
-A longer hug goodbye in the morning.
-A real hug hello instead of a quick squeeze.
-That extra second before pulling away.
For me, that means with PJ and the kids and with the people who share my daily life.
Sometimes the intimacy we’re craving isn’t missing, it’s just rushed.
Make hugging part of your routine
In our house, hugs are already woven into the day, but January reminded me to be more mindful about them.
Hugs before school? Check!
Hugs before bed? Of course.
Hugs after hard moments? Nonnegotiable.
There’s something grounding about making physical connection part of the rhythm of your home, especially when the world outside feels uncertain or overstimulating.
Hug your friends
Somewhere along the way, hugs between friends became optional. Or awkward. Or rushed. National Hugging Day is a good excuse to bring them back. A hug when you arrive. A hug when you leave. A hug that says, “I’m really glad to see you!”
Connection doesn’t expire with age, does it? We still need it (maybe now more than ever).
Hug your kids like you mean it
Kids are incredibly perceptive. They feel the season shift too. Long hugs! Silly hugs! Quiet hugs! The kind where no one is talking and no one is rushing!
Sometimes that’s all they need to reset. And honestly, sometimes it’s all we need too.
If physical hugs aren’t your thing, try emotional ones
Not everyone is a hugger, and that’s okay. National Hugging Day can also be about emotional closeness:
-A thoughtful text.
-A kind note.
-Sitting close on the couch.
-Listening without fixing.
Connection comes in many forms. The point is presence.
Don’t forget to hug yourself (yes, really)
January can be a month of self-criticism. Comparing. Replaying. Wondering if you should be further along by now. What if today you offered yourself a little softness instead? This could look like a warm shower or a slower morning or even a little moment of grace.
Sometimes the hug we need most is permission to ease up.
In the middle of winter, connection can feel like a luxury. But it’s actually a necessity.
National Hugging Day is less about forcing affection or making a big deal out of it and more about noticing where you can soften, and where you can reach instead of retreat.
And maybe reminding yourself that warmth doesn’t only come from the sun.
Sometimes it comes from each other.