When we think of the best things we can do for our health and happiness, masturbation might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But, honestly, it really should.
Masturbating regularly is one of the best things we can do for our stress and mental, physical, emotional, and sexual health. It’s a great way to unwind, relax before sleep, or just have a little fun.
But because masturbating has only become a socially acceptable and publicly discussed topic in recent history, there’s a lot that many of us are still pretty damn clueless about.
Read on for some of the best tips, tricks, and techniques for masturbating for women.
Take Your Time

Masturbation is often something that we’re just trying to rush through—something to get out of the way. And that’s perfectly okay. But sometimes, it’s fun to play around with slowing it way down and taking your time.
Going slow allows us to more fully enjoy all the sensations involved. We get to explore our bodies and experiment with what kinds of touch feel good. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about ourselves and give ourselves some much-deserved “me time.”
Do It In the Bathtub

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If you’ve never masturbated in the bathtub, you are truly missing out.
Fill up the bathtub. Put on some relaxing or sensual music. Light some candles. Bring along a glass of wine or your favorite CBD product.
Hands are always a great option for bath-time sexy-time. Or, if you’re a fan of toys, use your favorite vibrator or dildo (just make sure it’s waterproof!).
Explore More Than Just the Vulva and Vagina

There’s so much more to self-pleasure than just the vulva and vagina.
Every inch of our skin has the potential to give us pleasure and turn us on. And you’ll never know which areas are the most stimulating for your own body until you try.
The breasts and nipples are an obvious place to start. Massage, tickle, twist, flick—try anything that feels good! Some folks also enjoy using vibrators on this region of the body.
Aside from boobs, try touching your neck, belly, back, shoulders, thighs, feet, hands, booty. There are no rules, no limits—and no shame.
Try It on Your Knees

Most of us are probably pretty used to masturbating lying down. But this is far from the only way to do it.
Try out kneeling on your bed (or on the floor, or in the bathtub). This provides a different range of angles to play around with it. It can be particularly good for vaginal masturbation and using dildos. Try stimulating your vagina from the front or from the back.
Kneeling is also a great position from which to experiment with anal play and stimulation.
Aside from lying on your back and kneeling, try out standing, lying on your stomach, sitting in a chair or on the edge of the bed, and more!
Do It At Bedtime

For some of us, this is an obvious one. In fact, lots of women masturbate usually or even exclusively at bedtime. But if you haven’t yet tried out masturbation as a sleep aid, now’s the time to feel it out.
Masturbating at bedtime can be a wonderful way to encourage sleep, rid ourselves of nighttime stress, and prevent insomnia. Turn off the lights, grab your favorite vibrator, enjoy some self-sexy-time, and let yourself drift off to sleep. It works amazingly well.
Use a Mirror

Using a mirror while masturbating can be terrific for a number of reasons.
First of all, masturbating in front of a mirror is a great way to get to know our anatomy better and get that much more up close and personal with ourselves. There’s nothing quite like examining the parts of our bodies that we don’t look at much in daily life. It’s the perfect learning tool—and you may find out more than you think.
Second, masturbating while looking at our reflection can be a big turn-on for some. Though some might feel skittish or ashamed of it at first, getting aroused by ourselves is a totally normal and healthy thing to feel. No harm in giving mirror masturbation a shot and seeing if it gets you all hot ‘n’ heavy.
Put On Lingerie

We typically only associate lingerie with partnered sex. But if you’re wanting to put in a little more effort and get a bit fancier with your solo sexy time, lingerie is a nice touch.
Lingerie inevitably makes us feel sexier, more sensual, and more erotic. It’s an ideal tool for getting us in the mood. It’s also a nice method for switching out of our daily, often stress-filled lives and into the self-care-focused time of masturbation.
It can be tough getting in the right head space when we’re in a baggy tee and PJ bottoms. So mix it up with some lacy lingerie!
Try Out Different Kinds of Erotic Aids

There are so many different ways to turn ourselves on during masturbation. As mentioned earlier, masturbating in front of a mirror can provide some interesting visual stimulation to get us going.
Porn is another obvious and frequently used erotic aid (though make sure it’s ethical porn!). Our imaginations are also an easy, free, flexible, and fun way to get ourselves.
But those aren’t the only ways to get in the mood while alone. Read erotic novels, short stories, or articles. There are countless to choose from online. Another option is audio porn or erotic podcasts—again, many different options to be found on the internet!
The variety and options are really endless. Experiment with all of them to see which one works the best. Or just alternate between each one to keep it fresh and exciting.
Ultimately, masturbation is one of the only things in your life that is entirely about you. So take advantage of it, enjoy it, and keep it fun.