Masturbate, of course! The fact that it feels phenom is reason enough to get down with your bad self. I know what you're thinking: duh! But if you're looking to avoid pregnancy or eliminate your risk of STIs, masturbation is the way to go, says Wendasha Jenkins Hall , PhD, a sex educator and researcher. All the pleasure, none of the risk! Try masturbating! For one, it may help you get more comfortable in bed. Millheiser explains.

2. Practice mindfulness.


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Here's the lowdown on how to subscribe to Allure's print edition for more beauty routines, recommendations, and features. Masturbation can sometimes feel daunting. I also get frustrated by how easily I can get thrown off course, or about how particular I am with my environment. Ultimately, though, I feel happy to have one reliable way to get myself off. I know from my experience as an educator that there are many, many others who have yet to find a way they like to do it. When we take the time to explore on our own, though, both our solo and partnered sex lives benefit. Exhibit A: I need intense pressure or vibration to get off, but my sexual partners for the first five years of my sex life only executed light, fluttery rubs and tickles or suction-y cunnilingus — which I hated. But remember: We're all different. No two people like exactly the same things.
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Sure, exercise is a great way to relieve stress and improve your sleep. But so is enjoying a little one-on-one time with you and your body. Masturbation is a safe and natural way to:.
It goes without saying that many of us are spending more time at home and in some cases, alone than we ever have before. We're also trying our darndest to manage the multitude of stressors that are popping up a la whack-a-mole. If your current situation could stand to be infused with more relaxation — and more pleasure — there has never been a better time to master masturbation. For instance, it relieves both physical and emotional stress, floods your body with feel-good, pain-killing endorphins, and orgasms release chemicals and hormones that boost immunity , Chavez points out. Masturbation can also be like waving a magic wand at stress-induced and inducing physical and mental roadblocks that are being exacerbated by this crisis. It can improve self-esteem and body image by reducing sexual and genital shame. It also improves circulation and blood flow.