Everyone needs a little pick-me-up to get through a long day now and then. If your go-to self-care “treats” aren’t quite cutting it anymore—maybe your regular Thursday afternoon donut is no longer hitting like it used to—consider adding porn dosing into your routine.
Similar to micro-dosing, or the practice of taking a small amount of a psychedelic drug like cannabis or psilocybin to boost your mood and creativity, porn dosing involves watching to or listening to porn or reading erotica in short bursts throughout the week for a small pleasure boost.
According to Jaimee Bell, sex expert and producer at erotic audio platform Bloom Stories, the trend is being fueled by TikTok’s “spicy audio” movement, where users of that platform are listening to short, erotic audio clips while grocery shopping, working out, commuting, and even at work.
“Listening to spicy content can be an amazing way to boost your mood [and] relax, and can give you ideas and get you in the mood for intimacy, even during a busy week,” Bell says. In a recent survey carried out by Bloom Stories, 98% of the platform’s users said listening to audio erotica boosted their sense of wellbeing, and 92% of users found that it was good for their intimate relationships too.
If you’re curious about how to add porn dosing to your day, here’s what you need to know.
Why you should add porn dosing into your day
Porn dosing can take different forms, says Bell, depending on your preferred type of erotic content. Some people might choose to watch short clips of porn videos in those moments they might otherwise take a break by scrolling social media. Others might listen to a short erotic audio story or passages from a smutty audiobook on their way home from work, or check out OnlyFans on their lunch break (while away from their work desk, obviously) for some added spice.
Bell does stress the importance of watching and listening to ethically produced adult content, so you can feel good about what you’re consuming.
The benefits of porn dosing
The goal isn’t to reach orgasm every time you porn dose, Bell says, but to the build up a sense of anticipation that can lead to an amazing orgasm later, when you are eventually in the position to release that tension. “The benefits of orgasm are well documented: Our brains release oxytocin and endorphins, which can reduce stress, improve focus and help us sleep better,” she says.
Similarly, award-winning erotic filmmaker Erika Lust says porn dosing can boost serotonin in the same way as listening to a song you love. “Serotonin encourages better moods, sleep, digestion and of course, sexual desire, so it may make you more productive to watch short snippets of porn throughout the week.”
Lust says that porn dosing can also benefit people who don’t know what type of porn they enjoy. By experimenting with different varieties and formats, by listening, reading, or watching, you can see which gets you the most excited.
Also, Bell adds, porn dosing can “be just one part of a healthy sex life, [helping you to] feel sexually empowered, aroused, and excited to try new things with your partner(s). Research has repeatedly associated a healthy sex life with improved cognitive function and mood.”
So in addition to experimenting with sex toys and role-playing, for example, you might want to include porn dosing as part of your sexual repertoire.
How to fit porn dosing into your routine
First, says Bell, it’s important to find a format you like. “Do you prefer reading, watching or listening to erotic content? Audio can be a great format, as it’s subtle, and something you can easily consume on the move [via] headphones,” she says. “But experiment and find what you like best.”
Bell also suggests setting a habit. “For example, listening to something spicy on your homeward commute could help get you in the mood for intimacy with your partner when you get home,” she says. “Or you might find a spicy erotica break at lunchtime energizes you for an afternoon at your desk.”
Most of all, porn dosing should be fun. “Don’t put yourself under pressure [to the point] that it feels like a chore,” Bell says. “Do what feels good and right for you.”
The potential drawbacks of porn dosing
It must be said that obeying the NSFW rules of your workplace is crucial. Getting caught will be embarrassing at best, and could cost you yours job at worst. That’s not the relaxing vibe of porn dosing you’re looking for. You also want to be safe while consuming content, advises Lust, which means not listening or watching erotic content if you’re likely to become dangerously distracted while doing so.
Turning porn dosing into a habit might sound like a gateway drug” to a porn addiction, but Lust notes that such an affliction is better thought of as, “more of a symptom of deeper psychiatric issues or relational conflicts…than [a problem] with the porn consumption itself.” However, she stresses, “a healthier way to watch pornography is to choose porn that aligns with your values and that portrays credible stories, and the same is true when you enjoy porn in smaller, bite-sized doses.”
As with anything pleasurable, it’s important to use erotic content in moderation and notice if your watching or listening habits are having a negative impact on your wellbeing or relationships. “If this is the case, seek the support of a professional who can help you talk this through,” Bell advises.
Signs that perhaps you are overindulging, says Lust, could be that you find you have trouble keeping your consumption limited to those bite-sized sessions, or in ways and at times that make you feel out of control. “My advice would be to try to be mindful of your decisions, the same as you would with the food you consume,” she adds. “As long as we are mindful about the decisions we make when consuming any kind of product, [that] lessens the risk of becoming obsessed [with] or addicted to it.”
