New Year’s resolutions, especially about weight or improving low libido, usually reach dissolution by the time my birthday rolls around in March.

That’s not to say everyone with a resolution will fail.  But, I think we are setting ourselves up for failure when unrealistic resolutions are made.

The only resolution I can remember following through for 12 whole months was awhile back before Kindle.  I was taking classes to try to finish my degree and was in a very cerebral mindset.  As a science-oriented gal, my studies didn’t allow stories to fill the hole in my heart where words were needed.  Instead of culling through pulp fiction and empty sordid romance novels, I decided my outside reading would only involve classics.

I read Shakespeare, Dickens, Bronte, Stoker, Shelley, Poe, and my favorite, Fenimore Cooper.  I often had Cliffnotes sitting close to help me decipher the syntax.  I didn’t even like some of the books.

Here are some similarities I found between my classic literature resolution and a libido improvement Resolution.

Tiny resolutions are best.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to read more than 12 books that year.  I had three small kids.  I still completed the resolution by reading 1/2 a book a month.  It was not a big commitment, yet I felt a great amount of satisfaction in success.

Resolving that you will make the decision to improve your sex life is tiny but HUGE.  A tiny, action-oriented next step is needed.  Here are some thoughts for follow-through.

What you do first should be a small, achievable step.

Physical Check-up?

Have a nice conversation with your husband about your resolution?

Find a friend you can confide in with similar challenges and goals?

Sign-up to receive new posts from OysterBed7 or listen to our podcast, Sex Chat for Christian Wives.  The podcast (and my writing) super tasteful and fun, honest! Both of these resources have thoughts on improving your marriage bed.

You don’t have to like it to continue pursuing your new habit.

When I realized I didn’t like one of my book choices, I was usually too far into the book to quit.  Besides, the follow-through is where you achieve the resolution.

OK, I know this doesn’t sound uplifting and encouraging.  Husbands are especially not going to like the sounds of ‘even if you don’t like sex, follow through with it.’  Husbands want wives fully engaged and participatory.

Although fully engaged and participatory is the goal, we have to start somewhere.  Allow yourself to say, ‘Hey, I don’t particularly like sex at the moment, but because I’m committed to my husband and love him, I know that sex is an important part of marriage.  I’m going to follow through even when I’m not really into it.’

What’s been proven is the more you have sex, the more you like sex.

Realizing this can happen will make it easier to stick with the goal.

Reconnect with why you made the resolution in the first place.

I wanted to broaden my exposure to what was commonly held up as excellence in literature.  Broadening my exposure didn’t mean I had to like the book.

Each time you have sex with your husband, you are reconnecting with why you made the resolution in the first place!  You made the resolution to have a better connection with your husband and to honor God’s design of marriage.

Find an Element of Fun

Reading through a book I liked was easy and fun.  However, I had to look for fun in the books I didn’t like.

How do you reinvent your sexual attitude and find fun when sex has seemed a chore for such a long time?

With a light heart, prayer, and decisive attitude. 

Squelch the negatives and fill your mind with positives.  Instead of, “I don’t have time for this,”  remind yourself,  “I have time for this because I am firming up the foundation of my marriage, and besides I might experience a drenching orgasm.”

Read: 25 Reasons God Made Sex Really Good

Do not resist the transformation.  Allow sex to evolve from a, ‘job that must be done,’ to a, ‘job that when well done, curls your toes.’

Which leads me to:

Make your resolutions compatible with your personality.

For me to say, ‘I’m going to be more spontaneous this year,’ would set me up for failure.  That’s too broad and way out of line with my personality.  Now, if I say, ‘I’m going to plan some time to be more spontaneous,’ that would work!

Part of my libido renovation involved planned sexual encounters.  I had all day to prepare mentally and physically (kegels started the blood flowing).

I have heard from ladies who have a very hard time with this.  If knowing a sexual encounter is planned and sets you into true panic attack mode, I highly encourage you to seek professional counseling.

New Seasons, Fresh Starts, Do-Overs 

These are what I’ve come to relish as true helps in self and marriage improvement.

That’s why it has been so long since I’ve completed 365 days of resolution.  I found that I need to jump in when the time is right.  New seasons present themselves and when they do, grab on to them.  You don’t have to wait for the next January 1 to start improving.

If you happen to fall off the sex drive transformation wagon, give yourself a mulligan, a free do-over.  Just recommit.

What has helped you keep your resolution for better sexual connection with your husband?

Here’s a little instruction book that might be the first baby-step to take.  I wrote it with you in mind!  Click on the photo to go to the description of this book.  You might find it’s just what you’re looking for.

You also might like:  Journey to Surrender: The Weight, The Wait and The Hope