Many couples make the mistake of only touching when they’re hoping it will lead to sex. Over time, even a hug or kiss can start to feel loaded with expectation, which can make the partner with lower desire pull away.
Instead, focus on rebuilding physical connection outside the bedroom first, with the understanding it won't lead to sex. Hold hands while you’re out walking, cuddle while watching TV, hug for a little longer before leaving the house, stroke each other’s hair, or give one another a shoulder massage with no expectation that it will lead anywhere else.
When physical closeness comes with no obligation to enter into sex, it creates safety around touch and opens the door for physical touch to return.
Once that foundation has been rebuilt, intimacy often feels much more natural. Remember, physical connection isn’t measured by how often you have sex, but by how connected you feel in the everyday moments in between.