Could you imagine how exhausting it would be to have a partner with the sex drive of a teenager who just lost their virginity? Sure, it’d be fun at first, but it would get old quick. Because as great as sex is, there are times when the desire for it just isn’t there. But why is that? Why does our interest in sex just disappear from time to time?
The answer is actually quite simple: Our sex drive changes as we age. This is due to overall lifestyle changes, body changes and, quite simply, adulting (which, BTW, why didn’t anyone tell us it would be this exhausting?!) So, if your idea of playtime involves successfully meal prepping and cleaning the kitchen, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Chances are, your libido has gone into hiding for a minute because of, well, life.
What libido really is, and why it goes away sometimes:
Libido is a person’s overall sexual drive or desire for sexual activity. According to Verywell Health, someone’s libido—regardless of their gender—is motivated by brain function, hormones, and learned behavior. It tends to fluctuate according to mental state, hormonal shifts, and stress. Sometimes a person may be experiencing low libido because of things such as:
- Birth control pills
- Stress
- Sleep deprivation
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Low testosterone
- Anxiety
- Certain medications
- Hormonal changes
- Aging
- Diabetes
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Other mental health issues
Basically: Everything can disrupt and lower your libido. In all honesty, every adult in the world has felt a decrease in their sex drive at one point or another; it’s perfectly normal, and nothing to be ashamed of. Plus, keep in mind that everyone’s sex drive is different—we’re even going to vary by our own standards every single day. There is no “ideal” or “right” sex drive for everyone.
However, if you’re currently experiencing low libido and want to start indulging in some pleasure again, you’ve come to the right place. The good news is that there are some all-natural remedies that can work for all genders. Keep on reading to learn more about how to boost your libido and increase your sex drive naturally, and say bye-bye to that dry spell.
Ways to naturally boost libido and increase sex drive:
Eat the right foods
Aphrodisiacs may not be as powerful as society’s given them credit for, but there are scientific benefits to eating the right foods and how they link to health and sex drive. Certain foods such as figs, avocado, bananas, salmon, basil, and garlic can act in a similar way to Viagra and help relax blood vessels and increase blood flow to the genitals. It also turns out that the people who marketed chocolate as a Valentine’s Day staple were onto something. An article published on The Everygirl claims that there’s been some research and evidence that chocolate actually releases serotonin and other chemicals that can have a natural aphrodisiac and mood-boosting effect.
Take care of yourself
A healthy libido is a sign of a healthy body. In addition to eating the right foods, making sure to exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, drink enough water, and eat an overall balanced diet are all equally helpful and part of a healthy sex drive.
Manage stress
As nice as it would be, we can’t get rid of stress completely; there will always be little things that pop up, events and appointments that seem to pile on one after the other, and always something else to do. Which is why it’s important to healthily cope and manage as best we can, so the stress doesn’t disrupt our lives and sex lives.
Practicing self-care and mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, or Tai Chi can be helpful. Likewise, putting your phone on “do not disturb” for 30 minutes a day, exercising three to five times per week, and setting healthy boundaries can also help effectively manage stress.
Additionally, it’s important to note that turning to alcohol to manage stress levels is not a good idea. Not only is it unhealthy and potentially dangerous, but it will have the opposite effect in the bedroom. In fact, it’s been argued that alcohol may potentially ruin your ability to perform in the bedroom and inhibit your ability to orgasm.
Get to know yourself better and get comfortable with being sexual
In order to know what turns you on, you first have to know what you like. Try exploring your fantasies and desires in your mind, through forms of erotica (audio, video, books), using sex toys, sexting, etc. Take the time to explore your body on your own. Getting to know your body better and tapping into your primal desires will help balance everything. Knowing and engaging in what arouses you may help boost libido, and even spice up a dull sex life.
Foreplay
If you go to a restaurant where the environment, food, and drinks blow your mind, you’re going to want to go back. When something’s good, we all get the urge to experience it again—and sex is no different. Yes: Better sexual experiences may help boost libido, and that includes plenty of foreplay. Foreplay helps get the mind and body get ready for sex. Besides—what’s the rush? Try spending more time on foreplay to enhance and savor your sexual experiences. You can do this through touching, kissing, oral sex, and even sex toys.
Keep your relationship healthy
If you’re in a relationship, emotional intimacy is just as important as physical intimacy. Focus on nurturing your relationship outside of the bedroom. Talk about any problems together so you don’t build up resentment, communicate more openly and often, and spend more one-on-one time together. The key is to make sure you both feel safe, cared for, and loved by one another. Having that strong emotional intimacy is likely going to help boost libido.
This also goes for anyone who’s single. The most important relationship you have is the one with yourself, so make sure you’re nourishing that connection. This includes building self-love, being kind and compassionate to yourself, and keeping your body healthy.
Get it on more
When you first start a diet, you crave food you’re not supposed to have because you’re not used to not having it. However, once enough time passes, you barely think about that food anymore. The same goes for sex: The longer you go without it, the less sexual you tend to feel.
Perhaps this is easier said than done, but having more sex is going to help remind you why sex is so great. This, in turn, will make you want it more. So, get it on more! Whether you’re having sex with yourself, a partner, or both, more sex will help awaken your libido and heighten your sense of desire.
In conclusion…
At the end of the day, it’s all about taking care of yourself the best you can. Your libido is more likely to be healthy if you’re managing stress effectively and healthily, exercising, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet.
Although the natural remedies mentioned above can help boost libido, you may still find you’re suffering from a low sex drive. An overall healthy libido is a sign of a healthy body, and if you’ve tried the natural remedies mentioned above and are still suffering from chronically low sex drive, there may be something deeper going on. Don’t hesitate to talk to a doctor if you’re worried about or unsatisfied with your sex drive. A professional will be able to figure out the underlying cause and get you back on track. A healthy sex life is part of a happy and healthy life, and you deserve that.
DISCLAIMER:
The information in this article is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or professional advice. Always consult a physician or any other professional health care provider regarding any health or wellness questions you may have, and before beginning or trying a new health, lifestyle, or wellness regimen.
Interesting post. Most people do not associate these tips with healthy libido. Sure a lot of reader will find this blog informative and helpful.
Author
Thank you, it’s great to hear that! It’s amazing what living an overall healthy and balanced lifestyle can do—it’s all connected! Thanks for reading!