Staying In? Six Ways to Spice Up Your Sex Life in 2015

Now's right about that time of year when you're looking back over the months that have passed and planning what you'll do differently in 2015. While you're thinking about your career, your savings account, your diet and how you spend your free time, now is also a good time to look at your time between the sheets and consider whether your sex life needs a reboot. If your frisky fun has suffered over the festive season, fear not - we have some top tips to make sure it doesn't turn into a case of the January Blues.  __________________________________________ Stay In Because You Want To All too often we look at staying in (especially in January and February) like a punishment for the excesses of Christmas, or a money-saving exercise that can't be avoided. Instead of "not bothering to go out", change your mindset and decide you actually want to stay in and spend some quality time with your other half. Turn the telly off for a while and uncork a nice bottle of wine. Turn on some music, talk, cuddle and massage your partner's worries away. Preferably in the nip and with sensual oils. Work It Out, Together If you're on the stereotypical get fit kick that comes with a new year as surely as a new calendar does, do it together. Endorphins released during exercise make you feel really, really good - so maybe once you've showered off you'll be ready to get sweaty all over again, together. Hell, you might even shower together. Don't do that in the gym though; there are rules about that kind of thing. Revamp Your Bedroom If the pair of you have come to the silent conclusion that a good night in bed is getting there at 9.00 with a cup of hot chocolate and the new episode of Homeland recorded, you need to act fast. The bedroom should be a place for the two of you to feel connected. That becomes far more difficult when there are two phones on charge, computers pinging with emails and a TV blaring. Not to mention eyesores like overflowing laundry and clutter. Make the bedroom your Zen place and banish technology, along with anything else that makes you feel anxious or stresses you out. Make a point of having a kiss and a cuddle every night before you go to sleep. If it leads to sex, great, but that's not the point of this exercise. You need to remember that this is your sexual partner as well as a best friend you share a room with. Change Your Routine If you can't remember the last time you had sex in the morning, make it your business to instigate some early-hours fun. There's nothing wrong with a routine for most of your life, but intimacy with your partner should not be another chore to tick off of your list. Never had sex outside of your own bedroom? Take it to the kitchen, the couch or the bathroom for a change. It should go without saying this only applies to couples who don't house share with anyone else, but there's always one so we should probably include the warning anyway. Toys Aren't Just for Christmas Having a conversation about sexual experimentation can be really difficult, especially for Irish people (the old residues of Catholic guilt will do that to you). It could open up a new work to you and your partner though, so it's worth braving the awkwardness. Dart into an Ann Summers or the likes on a Saturday trip to the shops and pick up some non-scary starters (head straight for the bondage gear if you're in that place in your relationship and your OH loves it too - good for you! We're talking to beginners...). Some naughty dice, a book of favours or some sexy lingerie is a good place to begin. Keep the conversation open and don't be afraid to ask what your partner likes, as well as telling him/her what you want. The Art of Seduction One of the worst feelings any person in a relationship can have is one of being taken for granted. Avoid this by actually seducing your partner like you would have back at the beginning. Dress nicely for each other, take each other out on dates, and never lose the art of flirting and teasing. Yes, it might take a while to get back into the swing of it, but once you do you'll wonder why you ever stopped! Now all that's left to do is wave goodbye to 2014 and welcome 2015 in with a bang...