By Cecilia Toro
Relationships are always tricky to navigate. Throw a pandemic in the mix, and things get a little more complicated. Before you know it, you’re left with an entirely different definition of love and intimacy.
Dating, in particular, has changed as we know it since “the… pandemic has disrupted our dating game. We are no longer able to see or touch people the way we used to.” These changes have surely made us wonder if sex will ever feel “normal” again. It might make you think “well, how safe is sex right now?” and we’re here to tell you: it’s as safe as you want it to be.
Since most of us have had to readjust to interacting with loved ones over the phone, through video calls, or the occasional email, it’s worth reimagining how intimacy can look like and relearning how to connect with our significant others and ourselves.
It goes without saying that, however negatively we feel about such a strange turn of events, there’s a lot we can reflect on while at home. So, we wanted to discuss how exactly we can reconnect with ourselves and our sexuality by focusing on wellness, new habits, and little actions we can take to feel good with and about our bodies.
More importantly, we want to encourage our readers to find alternative methods of distressing and grounding themselves in such weird times.
And, yes, sex and pleasure are great for just that.
Sex and wellness: let’s talk about it
Considering our present situation, sex might be the last thing we’d want to prioritize. However, even if you may or may not know about the countless benefits of having sex, sexual wellness has become a growing trend in recent years. Sex “involves complex, physical responses, many of which can be affected by depression, stress, age, bodily changes, trauma, and illness.” These responses can tell us a lot about our bodies and what we might need to feel better or more energized.
For example, self-pleasure’s been shown not just to boost self-confidence but also to improve stress levels and boost the immune system. Since “quarantine [has given us an opportunity] to rediscover our connection to our…sexuality”, now’s as good a time as any to dedicate a few moments to understand ourselves.
Since sex is such a mood lifter and destresser, it can help us feel more present when all else feels so heavy. So, spend some time getting to know what gets you going. Head to our article on how to have a sustainable sex life if you’re wondering what sex toys to get and find out what works best for you!
Some tips for practicing sexual wellness when in isolation
As of late, the subject of self-care has been talked about frequently and exhaustively. Often sexual wellness and self-care go hand in hand, and self-pleasure has become one of many practices that have helped many of us get through the monotony and pain of isolation.
As a way of encouraging our readers to continue taking care of themselves, we brought together a few of our favourite tips:
- Whether you’re single or in a partnership, honesty and transparency are crucial to making sure you’re as safe as possible! What does this look like? Ask about what they’ve been up to, and try to be as detailed as possible so that everyone’s on the same page. Uncomfortable questions and conversations will probably come up but this will help you and others feel safer and calmer about being sexual with one another.
- Unbound, in collaboration with @awardsforgoodboys, shared an incredibly useful and easy to follow “how to actually sext” post that’s absolutely worth a read to get you thinking on how to approach the often awkward act of sexting. When done right, sexting can be liberating, empowering, and just straight-up fun.
- So, nudes for yourself? Absolutely a thing. Loré Yessuf published an article on how healing taking nudes has been, writing that “In front of the camera and the mirror, I can be whoever I am, I can feel whatever I feel. And in the midst of a global emergency, it is so crucial to welcome all of those complicated, inconsistent feelings.” The writer makes it a point to remind us that although this practice isn’t exactly like therapy, it can nurture a sense of self and intimacy that we might be lacking right now.
Chloe Macintosh: Founder And CEO Of Kama
All in all, these are just a few ideas that have been circulating, and we believe these can help you discover other ways of exploring your sexuality – no matter the circumstances. We want to empower others to do what feels safe and right for them.
There is no pressure at all to be sexual right now.
However, on a day that you might feel like no self-care practice is quite doing it, self-touch and sex are an excellent way to come back to yourself and to reality.
Cecilia Toro
Contemporary Literature graduate. Writer, editor, and content creator based in San Juan. She is most passionate about topics that will inspire others to live more ethically and sustainably.
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