When you're juggling kids, work, a dog that needs to be walked, hamsters with a cage to be cleaned, meals to prep, laundry to wash and fold (well, you get the idea) ... sex falls out of the top 10 list of priorities pretty easily.
But it shouldn't! Studies show that happily married couples are the ones that are pretty damn happy with their sex lives. And for most people, that means leaving the dishes in the sink and doing it at LEAST once a week.
Everyone has different needs, though. So instead of keeping a tally, click through to see the obvious signs that you and your partner both feel satisfied in the bedroom.
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Image via Bogoljubb/ShutterstockYour chemistry's a good indicator of your sex life. "If you both have tender feelings when you look at each other, you're doing okay," says Tina B. Tessina, PhD (aka "Dr. Romance"), a psychotherapist and author of How to Be Happy Partners: Working It Out Together.
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Image via wavebreakmedia/ShutterstockSo maybe you want to shake things up in the bedroom. Or your partner's like, "Hey, you wanna try ___ for a change?" Being able to speak candidly about your sex life is a GOOD thing, says Tessina. "When your conversation is open and caring, you can fix any sexual imbalance whenever it shows up."
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Image via Antonio Guillem/ShutterstockNot in the mood? Couples who are getting it on a good amount will take a "Sorry, not tonight" in stride. "Healthy sex is mutual," points out Tessina. "Not a demand."
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Image via Daxiao Productions/ShutterstockYou're probably pretty satisfied with your sex life if you make time for relaxing together, away from distractions, says Tessina. And that quality time will actually bring you two closer and make you crave MORE sex.
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Image via Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock"Funny things can happen [during sex], and if you enjoy them together, you'll enjoy your lovemaking more," Tessina notes.
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Image via wavebreakmedia/ShutterstockA couple on steady ground understands that EVERY sexual connection has its ups and down, notes Tessina. If you have an off night, you know it's not the end of the world.
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Image via VGstockstudio/Shutterstock"The best beginning for a lovely sexual encounter is a good, honest and open conversation," says Tessina. "When you were new lovers, you talked and sex was easy." Remember those days? If so, chances are you're STILL heating up the bedroom.
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Image via luminaimages/ShutterstockYou don't just "do it." If your sex life's on track, you've got a whole shebang of options, says Tessina. Think: quickies, sneaky sex, makeup sex, kids-are-at-grandma's-so-let's-try-that-thing-we've-been talking-about sex ... You get the gist.
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Image via bikeriderlondon/ShutterstockYou're sick. Or maybe your partner's pulling double shifts this week. Whatever's going on, you both get that your sex life will temporarily suffer a bit -- and that's okay. "You can still remember how much you love each other and offer comfort instead of sex," Tessina says.
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Image via Andrey Popov/ShutterstockIs there something silly about scheduling time for an orgasm? Yup. But couples who do so are making their relationship a priority, despite a hectic schedule, Tessina notes.
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Image via Pressmaster/Shutterstock"You don't need to be driven, you can get yourself there," says Tessina. Instead of waiting to have sex until you're "in the mood," you know that it's up to YOU to create it. (And you do.)
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