Starting the Day Off Right

Whether you want to be healthier, want to feel less stressed, or aspire to get ahead at work, there’s one thing experts think could be the key to success: a solid morning routine.

You’ve probably already heard about high-profile CEOs and famous personalities getting up at 5 a.m. to play tennis or meditate. But your morning routine doesn’t need to be that intense for you to feel more energized or productive throughout the day. In fact, one thing that could put some serious pep in your step is morning sex.

To help unravel some of the finer points of a more sensual morning routine, we surveyed nearly 1,000 people who are in a relationship and living with their partner. We asked if having sex in the morning made them feel more productive, how much sleep they would give up if it meant a roll between the sheets, and how relationship satisfaction relates to getting passionate in the morning.

Want to know whether it’s worth your time to make room for making love in the morning? Read on to learn more.

Morning Priorities

There’s a reason famous people so often get asked about their morning routines. For some, it’s hard to fathom having time to do more than get out of bed, making it to the shower, and getting out the door on time. And whether you’re eating breakfast behind the wheel or putting off your morning workout until the weekend, it can be nice waking up early enough to read the newspaper or take your dogs on a morning walk.

Most people typically got up and used the bathroom first thing in the morning. After that, they checked their phones, had a cup of coffee, or snoozed the alarm to get a few more zzz’s.

It was a different story on the days that people reported being most productive, though. Instead of reaching for their smart devices, people had their morning coffee, took a shower, or even had morning sex. Research has shown that using social media or checking emails in the morning can make it difficult to focus on the things that really need to get done. Your phone is a distraction that can affect your entire day.

Morning Sex Effect

Getting up early enough in the morning to have sex may sound like a luxury, but there are benefits to a healthy sex life beyond physical pleasure. Sex health experts say more intimate activity can lead to a better immune system, lower blood pressure, better bladder control, and a lower risk for a heart attack.

Related: Best mattress for sex

Morning sex can also help elevate your mood, make you feel more relaxed, and even boost your productivity. Fifty-three percent of men and over 45 percent of women said their morning sex had a positive effect on their productivity.

Sacrifices for Sex

There are other ways to feel energized in the morning. You could have the best pillows on the market or the best mattress for couples to share, but getting enough sleep at night can help prevent wanting to climb back into bed.

How much sleep you need to remain healthy depends on many factors, but somewhere between seven and nine hours is a good bet for most adults. Anything less, and you could compromise your cognitive performance and immune system.

Still, even though sleep is a vital part of your overall wellness, finding the time to fool around might be worth sacrificing some shut-eye. Even though respondents got just under seven hours of sleep each night, men (whose testosterone is typically higher in the mornings) were willing to give up nearly 42 minutes of sleep on average for morning sex. Women were less inclined to give up their rest, offering up just over 30 minutes, on average, if it meant having morning sex.

Morning Priorities

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that proved true for our respondents. More than half reported they would skip morning sex to eat their first meal. Slightly more people wouldn’t give up their morning showers, and close to 55 percent said they’d rather sleep in than have an intimate morning moment.

Most experts say hitting the snooze button in the morning can throw off people’s sleep rhythms. You’re better off committing to the extra sleep if you need it.

The thing respondents valued the most over morning sex? Not having morning breath. Almost 57 percent of people said they would rather have time to brush their teeth than have morning sex. 

Finding the Time

Even with the proven benefits of morning sex, a majority of men and women didn’t consider it essential.

Men did report having morning sex with a higher frequency, though – having morning sex about four times a month on average. Meanwhile, women had morning sex around three times a month on average. Men may owe their preference for morning sex to biology, which keeps them going longer earlier in the day.

Those who identified as straight had morning sex less frequently per month compared to those who identified as bisexual or gay. Straight respondents were also most likely to report never having morning sex than the other two groups.

The Weekend Effect

There could be another reason most people aren’t as proactive about morning sex as they are sleeping in or brushing their teeth: time.

On average, sex for most straight couples lasts roughly 19 minutes – including 10 minutes of foreplay and nine minutes of intercourse. Of the men and women surveyed, the average time spent having morning sex was 26 minutes.

Given that commitment, the majority of respondents typically had morning sex on Saturday and Sunday. Considering most people don’t work during the weekend, couples may have some extra time for a little hanky-panky before getting out of bed.

Saying “No” to Morning Sex

Of those who reported never having morning sex, more than half of women said they passed on morning sex because they were not in the mood. They were also more likely than men to suggest a lack of energy.

Over 51 percent of men who never have morning sex, on the other hand, wished it could be a regular occurrence. Nearly 35 percent of men said their partners weren’t in the mood, and another 28 percent said their partners wanted more sleep instead.

The Key to Happiness?

Even though morning sex isn’t always quick and may not be the first thing that comes to mind when waking up, it could be good for your relationship.

Studies suggest you should have sex roughly once a week for a happy relationship. Of course, as your relationship progresses, you may find that number varies. As most relationship experts will tell you, experimenting with new positions, places, and even times of day can help bolster your sex life.

People who were satisfied with their relationship typically had more morning sex each month than dissatisfied respondents (3.7 times versus 1.1 times). Even just making time for sexual forays on the weekends could make a big difference the rest of the week.

Making the Most of Mornings

Mornings can greatly impact our days. Some people might find a few intimate minutes with their partner sets them up for a happy, productive day. Others, though, might feel better after a quick workout and filling breakfast. It’s important to find what works best for you and to create a routine that leaves you feeling alert and ready to take on the day.

Whether sex makes its way into your morning routine, a good mattress is a necessity. It’s our mission at Mattress Advisor to help you find the best mattress to fit your needs. Our comprehensive review system – which utilizes user feedback, expert consultations, and in-depth user interviews – will help you find the best mattress and sleep accessories for your lifestyle.

METHODOLOGY

We surveyed 992 people using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. The respondents were 56 percent female and 43 percent male. The average age of respondents was 35.9, with a standard deviation of 11.3.

Respondents had to be in a relationship and living with their partner to qualify for the survey. Qualified participants were then asked about the frequency with which they had morning sex with their partner. They were given the following options:

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

From there, survey respondents were separated into two groups: those who reported having morning sex rarely or more often and those who reported never having morning sex. The graphic about people’s reasons for not having morning sex is based on responses from the “never” group. Additionally, the “other” category for reasons for not having morning sex combines the following options:

• Other
• It makes me tired
• My partner and I are on different sleep schedules

When asked to rate their productivity, respondents were presented with the following scale:

• Extremely productive
• Productive
• Somewhat productive
• Neither productive nor unproductive
• Somewhat unproductive
• Unproductive
• Extremely unproductive

These were then combined into three groups: productive, neither productive nor unproductive, and unproductive.

When asked to rate their relationship satisfaction, respondents were given the following scale of options:

• Extremely satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Extremely dissatisfied

These options were then combined into three corresponding groups: satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and dissatisfied.

The data we are presenting rely on self-reporting. There are many issues with self-reported data. These issues include but are not limited to: selective memory, telescoping, attribution, and exaggeration. The data were not statistically tested and are for entertainment purposes only.

SOURCES

• https://medium.com/swlh/the-importance-of-a-morning-routine-and-why-you-should-have-one-too-9c412715a655
• https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/23-morning-routines-of-the-most-extraordinarly-successful-people.html
• https://www.elitedaily.com/p/is-it-bad-to-look-at-your-phone-right-when-you-wake-up-it-might-be-sabotaging-your-day-8437383
• https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/sex-and-health#1
• https://www.medicaldaily.com/3-benefits-morning-sex-plus-science-reveals-best-day-and-time-get-naked-bed-410138
• https://www.bustle.com/articles/158149-11-things-to-do-to-wake-up-feeling-energized-each-every-morning
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-sleep-you-need
• https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/well/live/testosterone-supplements-low-t-treatment-libido.html
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878450X17300045
• https://www.businessinsider.com/snooze-button-effect-on-sleep-2017-5
• https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/a19529503/why-you-should-have-sex-in-the-morning/
• https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/how-long-does-sex-last-on-average
• http://www.thisisinsider.com/how-much-happy-couples-have-sex-relationship-2017-5

FAIR USE STATEMENT

Want to use this information to mix up your morning routine? Feel free to share the results of our study with your readers. Just make sure to link back to this page so that our contributors earn credit for their work too.