How to Boost Your Libido

When you think of your typical day, you probably think of waking up, getting the kids ready for school, going to work, making sure the kids have a ride to and from soccer/ballet/insert-activity-here practice, cooking and cleaning up dinner, helping with homework, doing chores around the house, making sure the kids are clean and in bed, and finally hitting the hay. Phew! What an exhausting day — and that's not even a busy one. Sure, a busy life is a happy life, but as much as you enjoy your life with your family, there's one thing wrong with the picture: Where is the hanky panky? The nooky? Whoopee?

Unfortunately, sex is the last thing on many a woman's mind when she lays her head down on the pillow at night. But staying intimate with your partner can lead to an all around healthier relationship. Sex boosts your "happy hormones" which can affect all facets of your life and even translate to a happy home. If you've found your sex drive to be a bit tamer than usual, check out these ways you can boost your libido.

Ask for a different contraceptive. Hormonal contraceptives can dampen your libido; therefore, if you're on the pill, ask your doctor for another option, like a birth control patch or even just a different dosage of estrogen. If that doesn't work, try shelving your birth control for a few months while exercising a different form of contraception. Those couple months will give your ovaries time to catch up and get your libido back in action.

Check your other meds. If you're taking any other prescription medication, you may want to check with your doctor if a side effect could be a weak libido. Medicines for high blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux disease, anxiety and depression are the most popular ones at fault in this case. Talk to your doctor for an option with fewer side effects.

Change the conversation. If most of the conversations between you and hubby concern the kids' schedules or who's calling the cable man, it's time to switch it up a bit. Changing the conversation to something sexy and fun will put sex on both your radars! For example, shoot him a text reminding him of memories from the getaway weekend when you were snowed in the cabin... all weekend. The building anticipation throughout the day should do the trick!

Go in for a 20-second hug. Most hugs barely last two or three seconds, but going in for a long hug will boost your oxytocin, and can lead to kissing, which can be just the spark you need. If you aren't one for hugging, try just touching your partner's arm while you recap your day.

Heighten your senses. According a study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, focusing on what you see, hear, smell and feel can increase levels of arousal and sexual satisfaction. For example, choose one snack every day to eat thoughtfully. Savor the flavor and texture of it, kicking your senses back in gear. To take it a step further, eat an aphrodisiac! Strawberries, avocados, oysters and even almonds are common aphrodisiacs that will boost your libido.

>> Read more: 10 Foods to Take Into the Bedroom

Only wear sexy lingerie if it makes you feel sexy. Just because your partner wants to feast his eyes is not enough reason to wear something that makes you uncomfortable. You should wear what makes you feel sexy, whether it is lingerie or a silky blouse that feels heavenly on your skin. Even a pair of earrings that occasionally graze your neck could work. It's all about listening to your body!

Exercise. You had to know that we wouldn't pass up an opportunity to encourage exercise. Aside from the usual health benefits exercise offers, it also kindles body confidence. Plus, it releases feel-good endorphins that leave you smiling after you finish working out. Between those two phenomenons your self esteem will soar the more you work out, so you will experience a greater desire for sex.

Keep the bedroom sexy. The less distractions in your bedroom (TV, laptop, iPad, even your dog), the more frisky the two of you will be. Reserving your bedroom for sleeping and lovemaking will help your sex life in ways you can't even imagine!

>> Read more: How Sex Can Help You Lose Weight

Use lubricant. If you feel as you need lubricant to help speed things along, go for a silicone-based lube or vaginal moisturizer. It's longer-lasting than a water-based one.

Schedule more date nights. Spontaneity is most likely a stranger to your packed schedule, so you might just have to schedule date nights. Whether that means going out to dinner and a movie or taking the kids to Grandma's, scheduling a night out is a surefire way to rekindle your sex life. You schedule everything else in your life, so why not schedule sex?

Divide household chores evenly. Doing the dishes together can spark some long-lost flirtatious energy between the two of you, and making sure you equally share the burden of chores makes sure that no one holds grudges. Plus, the thought of seeing hubby taking out the trash or vacuuming the carpet is enough to make your heart skip a few beats!