The last several months have left us all feeling more stressed-out and frazzled. We now must juggle working from home full-time while also navigating a pandemic.
With all that going on, it makes sense then that the sexual connection that you have with your partner might not be what it was pre-pandemic. After all, stress is a sure-fire way to blunt sexual desire.
However, now is more important than ever to feel connected to your partner.
Whether you want to regain, maintain, or improve your sexual connection with your partner—it is possible.
Here’s how to beat coronavirus stress together.
1. Take Care of Yourselves
Okay, hold on a moment. You most likely have already read many articles extolling self-care, especially when it comes to coronavirus stress. It can get repetitive and dull. Or worse, the advice feels stale and irrelevant. After all, this is the worst pandemic to impact humanity in over 100 years!
But self-care is very important if you desire a strong sexual connection with your partner. That’s because if you haven’t been taking care of yourself, then it’s very difficult to have the willpower, let alone the energy, for intimacy. Plus, it’s less pleasurable too.
Some things to keep in mind when it comes to self-care:
- Get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night
- Have a time each night when you turn off your devices to unwind
- Stick to a healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Practice mindfulness skills that help you stay calm and present
- Although it’s important to stay updated with events, watch out for getting too sucked into the news
2. Lighten Up a Little!
Next, consider injecting fun into your relationship to improve sexual connection. But why? Isn’t there a pandemic going on?
Yes, but here’s the thing. Having fun with your partner really helps with feeling connected. When you have fun, you share in a common experience in which endorphins are released. News flash, that happens during intimacy too!
And it’s not that hard to inject fun and humor into your day. For example:
- Sharing a good joke
- Exchanging funning videos or memes
- Playing games together
- Being goofy and silly with each other
- Doing things together that you both enjoy
These moments, whether they are spontaneous or planned, can really help with injecting some spark into your relationship. It’s those instances that can take you from laughing together to having a sexual connection.
3. Strengthen Your Communication
No article about sexual connection would be complete without including communication. You need strong communication in order to feel more connected with one another.
Consider some of these things when it comes to communication and sexual connection:
- Set aside time to talk with one another, such as dinnertime or after the kids have gone to bed
- Talk about the day-to-day things, but don’t forget about big picture topics (wants, needs, desires, etc.)
- Practice assertive listening skills and pay attention to what your partner has to say
- Take note of any verbal or nonverbal cues from your partner
- Discuss sex, the level of desire each of you has for sex, and what each of you wants
Remember that communication is a skill that requires constant practice and refinement. If you struggle with talking about these issues, don’t give up. Keep at it! It will get easier.
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A strong sexual connection is one of the many aspects of a relationship that’s rewarding and enjoyable. However, it takes work to maintain that connection. To ensure this happens, try implementing the three tips listed above and see what happens.
However, if coronavirus stress is still creeping into your relationship, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Feel free to contact me and find out how couples counseling can benefit both of you.
