You’re definitely not alone if you’re still struggling to get back to normal after the pandemic. COVID, lockdowns, mask mandates, and all the rest of it changed so much about how people do things – forever, in some cases. So, it’s understandable that so many people are still struggling to get back into the swing of things.
It wasn’t just people’s general sense of safety or their approach to work that changed, either. COVID really put people’s relationships through the wringer, too, so you’d have to be superhuman for all that not to have affected your sex life. Here are a few tips for getting your libido back on track.
Go easy on yourself
Something as traumatic and world changing as the pandemic isn’t something you just get over. You may actually never be the same, that can take some getting used to, and the same goes for your partner. But people tend to be hard on themselves when anything they’re going through affects something as primal and essential as their libido.
Give yourself a break and encourage your partner to do the same. It’s entirely natural for a person’s body and mind to focus on essentials like survival while putting sex on the back burner. It’s normal, it happens to everyone, and it doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you or your relationship.
Focus on reconnecting with your partner
If you and your partner are like most couples, you probably just spent the better part of two years right on top of each other all the time instead of doing your own thing during the day. You didn’t have your own space to the extent you used to, and you didn’t get the chance to miss each other while you were busy doing other things.
Spending that much time together just isn’t healthy (or even doable) for most couples, and you’ll need to work on reconnecting the way you used to. Make room in your schedules to get out more often and have fun the way you did before the pandemic. Do things you used to enjoy and discover some new ways to enjoy each other’s company. Rebuilding your chemistry outside of the bedroom is the best way to get it sizzling again between the sheets.
Get your health back on track
Being as incredibly stressed out as people were during the pandemic and not knowing what to do with all that extra time did a number on everyone’s collective health. Instead of working out and staying active, people sat around a lot more. And lots of folks really overdid it on the drinking, smoking, and binge eating as a way to cope with the stress.
Factors like weight gain, declining mental health, and inactivity have likely been doing a number on your libido. But thankfully, the damage is reversible with a bit of discipline and dedication. Reestablish a regular workout routine, cut back on bad habits, and get back to maintaining a healthy diet. Your health, body image, and sex drive will recover in no time.
Try some new ways to spice things up
While it’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself or your partner to bounce back to your old selves in the bedroom before you’re ready, it is a good idea to explore some new things to get excited about. Is there anything the two of you have always wanted to try? Now’s the perfect time to give them a whirl.
Try swapping pet fantasies with one another and making a running list of a few you’d both be interested in trying sometimes. Log onto your favorite online sex toy shop, pick out a few new options to play with together, and start looking forward to them arriving in the mail. Consider mixing things up by exploring new locations, positions, or sex acts. Anything goes!
Get away from it all
When was the last time you and your partner enjoyed a romantic trip together or even a weekend getaway? Minds, hearts, and libidos have a way of rebooting and regrouping when you get away from it all, so maybe it’s time to plan that next respite from daily life.
If you want to plan a trip that involves flying somewhere else or going abroad, by all means, go for it. But a staycation at a nice bed and breakfast in the next town can work wonders, too. Ultimately, it’s less about where you go and more about setting your daily routine aside to focus on rest and recovery instead.
Remember, the past two years were hard on everyone, and you have every right to still need a minute to get back to yourself. Be kind to yourself, take baby steps, and you’ll get there eventually.
