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Readers had a great threadjack a while ago discussing ways to get the spark back — it’s a topic that comes up a lot, so I thought I’d round up their responses. (Two other good threadjacks on the same topic: here and here.)
Readers, have you felt like the romance in your marriage or partnership has had a lull? What have you done to get the spark back? Have you felt like it’s a recurring problem?
(We’re having the same discussion over at CorporetteMoms today — but you’re welcome to discuss postpartum/parenthood stress issues here as well, of course.)
How to Get the Spark Back
Date Each Other
One reader noted that,
Dating again got our spark back. We do a ‘date night’ every Saturday night. We alternate between going out and staying in. Even with the pandemic this is possible. Even grandparents giving the kids dinner while you go out for dinner, or a Saturday afternoon playdate at a friend’s house etc. If we stay in we do something like watch a movie with fancy cocktails or play a strip version of some boardgame.
Read Come As You Are
A number of readers highly recommended the book, Come As You Are, by Emily Nagoski Ph.D. (There is a newer revised and updated version of the book.)
One woman noted, “it really enlightened me about the true nature of desire for both men and women – we have a lot of myths and misconceptions around it.”
Focus on Intimacy, Not Sex
One reader noted that people have different needs over the course of their lives, and it isn’t necessarily a problem to “fix.” As she put it,
In my view, it’s okay for sex to wax and wane as long as intimacy remains – hugging, touching, caring, however that looks for you. I do not believe that your partner should prioritize sex over your mental or physical health, or that you should prioritize your partner’s sex drive over your own feelings/need for space/whatever it may be. The path is going to look different for everyone, but I feel bad reading these posts where women seem to be really hard on themselves for something that I view as very natural.
Others have noticed that taking sex off the table has been helpful. One woman noted, “Going on dates and making out afterward with their SO with no expectation of s-x has been transformative for a lot of women. Even if it never results in intercourse, there’s more connection and desire.”
Consider Scheduling Sex
Readers have had a lot of debates over the years over whether “just doing it” can get you back in the mood, even if (in the OP’s case) the sex was middling at best.
One woman shared how this helped her:
I think sometimes you need to have just ok sex to get back in the groove. I can’t speak for other women, but I don’t really miss sex when I’m not having it. Once I start having it regularly, I start wanting it more. And the sex itself may not even be lackluster – you may not be in the mood, but if you “just do it” you may find out that it ends up being pretty good/satisfying, if not exactly mind blowing.
Meanwhile, another woman likened it to day-old hamburgers:
[B]lah sex MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE. It kills your desire.
Consider this: if you and your husband normally have healthy, delicious, and satisfying dinners, you don’t mind if you do Burger King or a frozen meal once in a while. Now imagine that every meal your husband gets is delicious and satisfying, but every meal you get is a day-old hamburger. Now picture someone telling you that the solution is to not mind the day-old hamburger and just have the meal, because not every meal has to be great.
Treat Depression
To the extent that depression is involved, readers suggested taking a closer look at your antidepressants — on one hand some antidepressants can tank your sex drive, or perhaps your dose is too high or too low.
Get Therapy (For Yourself or as a Couple)
Readers suggested asking key questions such as, do you know why you feel this way? Do you not feel empowered to change it?
Stop Worrying About It
One reader suggested that worrying about it might be doing more harm than good. “Maybe you can tackle it with fresh eyes or see your husband anew after you get away from it for a bit. Probably it’s not a great time for a solo trip, but you could get involved with a solo hobby, escape for a bath every evening, rewatch all your favorite chick flicks, or something. For loneliness, contact your friends, get a massage, snuggle a pet or a pillow.”
Readers, have you felt like the romance in your marriage or partnership has had a lull? What have you done to get the spark back? Have you felt like it’s a recurring problem?
Stock photo via Stencil.