How to Keep Stress From Ruining Sex

Our modern lives have become so fast-paced that sex often takes a backseat to work and our constant need to feel connected to everyone and everything. It can be a recipe for stress, causing you to lose interest in your partner. The good news is that you can control the stress that's affecting your relationship. Take charge of it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Slow down. Eliminate some of the distractions that make sex an impossibility in your life. It's hard to get in the mood if you're constantly attached to your PDA, your laptop or your cell phone. Remember: you can get turned on until you turn it all off.
2. Sort out the stresses in your life. Determine whether your job is intruding on your marriage. If so, look into vacation time. If the kids are hitting a nerve, take a vacation from them as well, even if it's just for a night. Create some sacred places in your life that are set aside for you and your spouse. Decide when work will end for the day and stick to it.
3. Carve out time to take your spouse on a date. Leave all distractions behind except for a cell phone to use for emergencies only. Don't talk about work or anything that normally consumes your time. Instead, focus on your relationship and the needs of your partner.
4. Pay attention to the stress in your spouse's life. Bring back some magic by surprising your spouse with small but meaningful gestures, such as bringing coffee to her in bed, completing a chore she abhors or taking the liberty of setting up a babysitter for a night out. Give her a gift certificate to a local spa for a facial and a massage. Focus on her needs for a while, and don't be surprised if you both start feeling more amorous.