Baby, it's (getting) cold outside - time to bundle up and cuddle for some awesome scientific benefits.

Anyone who's ever cuddled before knows how amazing it feels - be it with your spouse, with your pet, with your kids, friends, or a stranger, there's a reason cuddling feels amazing.

The power of touch brings so many emotional and physical benefits, and it doesn't have to be romantic or sexual. Here in Colorado, fall and winter are the perfect time to cuddle since we'll experiencing chilly temperatures. But also, no matter where you are and what time of year or day it is, touch can be the most wonderful, healing thing ever.

To put it simply, cuddling and touch inhibits stress hormones from taking over our bodies and making us want to flip our lid. According to scienceofpeople.com, cuddling increases oxytocin, the hormone that makes us feel connected to the world around us, and triggers dopamine, the pleasure hormone that makes us feel really good. It also lowers cortisol, the stress hormone that makes us go ~*cRaZy*~ and decreases our cognitive function.

Trust me, you don't want cortisol to take over, otherwise your life could turn into one of these Northern Colorado Lifetime movies.

Anyway, there are also apparently 58 different cuddle positions that you can take advantage of including the Fortune Cookie (one person seated in front and the other seated behind) and the Blooming Lotus (sitting cross legged facing each other with your legs intertwined). If those positions from professional cuddler Samantha Hess (check out the video below) sound too complicated for you, no worries. There's always the classic Big Spoon/Little Spoon or holding/hugging an adorable puppy in your arms.

More From Retro 102.5