To have a healthy sex life, you need more than just sex. You need to relieve stress through exercise and good eating habits; you need to treat your body well with regular sleep, hygiene, and sexual health care; and you need to invest in meaningful relationships with your partner or partners. If you focus on these areas of your life, you’ll be amazed at how much more satisfying sex can be! Read on to learn eight ways to improve your sex life naturally.
1) Vary positions
In addition to bringing variety and excitement into your sex life, varying positions will also help reduce stress. Any position that forces you and your partner to be closer can relieve stress levels. If you are able to look each other in the eyes while having sex, you’ll be less likely to worry about what time it is or what has happened throughout your day; staring into each other’s eyes reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) levels. You should make it a point not only to try new positions, but also vary how long you hold a position during sex. Holding positions for extended periods of time increases blood flow (and therefore oxygen and nutrients) throughout various parts of your body; have both partners change positions every 10-15 minutes for maximum results.
2) Add some foreplay
If you really want to have an active sex life, it’s important to start by addressing your overall health. Think about all of the physical benefits that come with a healthy lifestyle—like lower blood pressure and decreased risk of heart disease and cancer. One way you can ensure better overall health is by adding some foreplay into your relationship. Instead of focusing on climaxing as quickly as possible, take your time—research has found that women who climax through intercourse report higher levels of arousal than those who climax during foreplay. By slowing things down, you could be putting yourself in a better position for sex every time you get intimate with someone new or have sex with your long-term partner.
3) Pay attention to your partner
During a healthy sex life, it’s important to pay attention to your partner and be open and communicative. If you have a problem with premature ejaculation, start talking about it with your partner instead of pretending it doesn’t exist. Likewise, if you’re worried about not being able to get your wife pregnant or keep her interested after years of marriage, express your concerns early on in order to figure out how you can enjoy an active sex life without stressing out. A healthy sex life takes trust and communication—and is well worth trying for.
4) Exercise together
Exercise is an excellent way to improve your sex life. It relieves stress, gives you energy, burns calories and builds muscle. When you exercise together with your partner, it helps both of you relax after a long day and relieves stress. Not only that, but being more fit also improves blood flow and allows more intense orgasms when it’s time for a little fun between the sheets. Set aside time each week just for fitness or have a post-workout massage.
5) Encourage masturbation
Studies have shown that masturbation can reduce stress, boost self-esteem and alleviate depression. Men who masturbate regularly tend to live longer than men who don’t; it could be because regular ejaculation reduces levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a substance found in higher levels in men with prostate cancer. Or, maybe it’s just because there’s nothing like coming home after a long day at work and having great sex… or even better, no sex… by yourself. A study conducted by researchers at Wilkes University found that older people who reported masturbating had less functional impairment than those without such a healthy sex life. It also reduced their risk of developing an illness later on in life.
6) Work on your overall health
The benefits of a healthy sex life are numerous. For one, it can relieve stress and improve your mood. Additionally, keeping your body healthy helps you stay energized for activities with your partner in and out of bed. These health-promoting habits will not only contribute to better sex but also make you feel more energetic overall.
7) Get enough sleep
The amount of sleep you get every night can affect both your sex life and your overall health. As a general rule, aim for around 7 hours per night. Sleep deprivation is a major stressor and can negatively impact both your mental and physical health. Getting too little sleep makes it more difficult to control appetites, especially when it comes to things like sex or food. And if you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re also at greater risk for infections or even depression—all of which make it harder to maintain an active love life. Make sure that you’re sleeping enough by scheduling time each day to wind down (i.e., taking time before bed each night). You’ll fall asleep faster and wake up feeling more refreshed in the morning.
8) Take a long walk together
Exercise improves circulation and often leads to better erections. According to Mayo Clinic, Physical activity can improve your blood flow by raising your heart rate and bringing more oxygen-rich blood into your body. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise is enough to improve blood flow. Plus, walking has been shown in studies to be an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. A review published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that a combination of lifestyle changes had a greater impact on sexual satisfaction than counseling alone did. So get up off that couch; it’s time for a walk!
Final Thought
Just as a healthy lifestyle helps your health, a healthy sex life can help improve relationships. And when it comes to sex, there are few things better than having your sexual needs met—without any worry of STDs or unwanted pregnancies. To reap all of these benefits and more, try talking with your partner about contraception and do some research into safe and consensual sex acts. Be open-minded! You’ll thank yourself later.