Keeping it Together: True love's (6-second) kiss

It takes longer than six seconds to fall in love − but what if you could strengthen your romantic connection in just that short amount of time?

Happy weekend! It's Hannah Yasharoff, wellness and celebrity culture reporter for Paste BN.

TikTok users have lately been lauding the "6-second kiss rule," which is exactly what it sounds like: A ritual of kissing your partner for at least six seconds consecutively every day.

It may sound overly simplistic − and not the most romantic or spontaneous way to express love − but there's research to suggest it can actually give relationships a boost. I interviewed John Gottman, the marriage and family therapist, author and researcher who coined the term "6-second kiss." Studies have shown, he told me, that small gestures to show love throughout the day have a major impact on couples' long-term happiness and success.

It all comes down to activities that boost oxytocin in the brain, he says. Kissing for at least six seconds or hugging for 20 seconds both trigger the release of oxytocin, which helps couples bond and feel trusting of each other. 

"People who really enjoy their sex life generally do these small things that have nothing to do with what goes on in the bedroom," Gottman told me.

To learn more about the benefits of the 6-second kiss, you can click here. And keep scrolling for more top stories from our Wellness team from this week!