13 Simple Tips for Seriously Better Sex

Can you remember the last time you couldn’t wait to get home and shimmy between the sheets? Was it last week, last month? Last ... year?

We get it: Sometimes it’s easier to give into your excuses—I’m too tired, let’s just do it this weekend, it doesn’t even feel that great to begin with. But we don’t need to tell you that sex is essential for a healthy marriage—and also a healthy you. Research shows that a happy sex life can stamp out stress, reduce heart disease risk, and even improve immunity. But enough of the nonsexy talk. Try just one of these libido-lifting tricks today. You can thank us later.

1. Take a lunchtime stroll

Research shows that the more fit you are, the more sex you’ll crave. In a study of women ages 45 to 55, sexual satisfaction correlated directly to fitness. "The less exercise they got, the lower their desire and sexual satisfaction," says study author Judith R. Gerber, Ph.D., a psychologist at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.

2. Book a rubdown

A pampering massage not only relieves stress, but "the skin-on-skin contact stimulates the sex hormone oxytocin," says Ian Kerner, Ph.D., author of She Comes First. "The more oxytocin released, the more desire a woman will feel." If you don’t want to spring for a full hour-plus session (which can cost $100 or more), tack on a 10-minute session at the nail salon after a manicure.

3. Read something hot

Skip the evening news and flip through a sexy novel instead. Erotic literature "can quickly jump-start arousal," says Carol Queen, Ph.D., a sexologist who works at Good Vibrations, a female-owned sex shop in San Francisco. She recommends the Herotica series, written by women, and The Diary of Anaïs Nin.

4. Get really relaxed

Just a few meditation sessions can jack up your sex drive and speed arousal. Researchers at Canada's University of British Columbia and Israel's Hadassah University Hospital measured reactions among 24 women watching an erotic film, then again after the subjects had attended three mindfulness meditation courses. Watching the same movie, the women were markedly more turned on compared to during the first viewing. "Mindfulness can directly change brain processing and allow women to experience arousal more acutely," says study coauthor Lori Brotto, Ph.D.

5. Pop a multi

Too tired to feel sexy? It may be a diet deficiency. Two overlooked nutrients may be to blame for sex-derailing exhaustion. "Low folate levels can make you feel tired, with no energy for sex," says Martha Morris, Ph.D., a Tufts University researcher. National surveys show that many women aren't getting enough of this B vitamin. And low iron can deplete brain neurotransmitters, which can lead to lethargy, says Swiss researcher Bernard Favrat, M.D. The fix for both problems: a daily multivitamin with 100 percent of the DV for iron (18 mg) and folate (400 mcg).

6. Break a sweat beforehand

Exercise primes your body to get in the mood. For some people, exercising too close to bedtime makes it hard for them to sleep. Take advantage of that found energy. "After 35 to 40 minutes of moderate exercise, everything in your body is going right," says Janet Hyde, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and women's studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Your blood is circulating, your nervous system is firing, so scheduling sex right after you exercise makes for good sex."

7. Smell your way sexy

These surprising scents will move you from the kitchen to the bedroom. Cucumber, licorice, and baby powder have been shown to turn women on, increasing vaginal blood flow by 13 percent. Pumpkin pie and lavender increase blood flow by 11 percent. Try this: To cap a romantic dinner, serve pumpkin pie and keep a cucumber-scented sachet next to your pillow.

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