Touching

One of the benefits of having more frequent sex is that it tends to increase the amount of overall touching in the relationship. Sex creates a physical connection, and affectionate touch helps maintain that connection. Hugging, kissing, holding hands, letting a hand rest on your partner's thigh while watching television, giving and receiving foot massages - even the grazing touch as you pass one another in the hall are all ways to stay literally 'in touch'.

Most of the couples I see that complain of having drifted apart are doing very little touching - of the sexual or non-sexual variety. In fact, when either partner begins avoiding sex, they almost always pull away from non-sexual physical contact, as well, out of fear that it will be misinterpreted as sexual interest. It's no surprise that distance begins creeping into the relationship.

Touch communicates something that words cannot. If you've let yourself get rusty in the touch department, your sex life is probably suffering. Affectionate touch is both an outcome of regular sex as well as a gateway to it. It's a place to start.