There is something oddly pleasurable about checking off items on a to-do list. We often that dopamine gratification in the mere experience of getting things done. Being “productive,” especially during a time when it is not necessarily expected of you, can feel deliciously addictive.
There are many reasons why we would want to stay more productive. There is also pressure in the modern world to stay productive at all times — a pressure to meet deadlines, to keep our jobs, and even to maintain a healthy work-life balance throughout all of it.
Haven’t we all felt that odd paradox: feeling pressured to healthily manage the pressure we feel each day?
Consequently, we sometimes might see sex as something we simply don’t have time for, or something that will not add much to our life other than relieving stress and releasing tension—and of course, having fun and feeling pleasure.
Some studies have shown that having more sex can boost your productivity. And hey, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, knowing all the benefits that sex has on our bodies and, more importantly, our minds.
There are at least four ways sex can make you feel more productive at work:
1. It Boosts Your Creativity
Researchers have found that a healthy mix of oxytocin and dopamine can do wonders for your creativity. Feeling a lack of creativity? Spend some time between the sheets with yourself or a partner and feel an upswing in inspiration.
2. It Helps You Bond With Colleagues
Oxytocin, a.k.a. the “love hormone,” can increase a sense of bonding and improve emotional intimacy – not just with your partner! These feelings of well-being and connection from sex can carry over into your work activities, helping you to closely bond with colleagues and improve your teamwork experience.
3. It Improves Your Mood
This one you already knew! For many of us, sex and happiness are strongly connected. The dopamine we release during sexual activity is a neurotransmitter linked to the reward centers in our brains, decreasing stress and anxiety, which translates to better performance at work.
4. It Bolsters Immunity
Research in Pennsylvania showed that students who had sex once or twice per week had the highest levels of immunoglobulin A — this is 30% higher than those who had no sex. This antibody functions as the body’s first line of defense, meaning there are potentially fewer days on sick leave, and more time to get work done!
Conclusion
There are days when completing a project or tackling tasks can feel “better than sex.” There are also days when putting off everything on your “to do” list to indulge in sex is better than anything. Lucky for us, the research shows that taking time for sex ultimately helps us to achieve our goals. Creativity, emotional intimacy, mood-boosting, and immunity are all priceless benefits of engaging in an activity that is already generative of pleasure.
Quitting multitasking, planning ahead, or learning to delegate are all good things to tackle when you’re looking to boost your productivity at work, but nothing beats a good ol’ sexy time with your partner(s), or alone!
Sources
Vardy, M. (2022). Why is Productivity Important? 10 Reasons to Become More Productive. LifeHack. https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/the-10-reasons-why-you-want-to-be-more-productive.html
Lopez, C. (2022). Here’s Why You Might Want To Develop a Kink (Even If Your Sex Life Is Already Great). The MAPS Institute. https://themapsinstitute.com/why-do-we-want-to-develop-a-kink-aside-from-spicing-things-up-in-the-bedroom/
Araujo, L. (2021). Productivity Is Not What You Think It Is: Here Are The 7 Essential Steps To Re-Wiring Your Relationship With Doing. The MAPS Institute. https://themapsinstitute.com/a-new-twist-on-productivity-is-what-allows-us-to-accomplish-more-and-see-life-in-living-color/
Chong, A., Tolomeo, S., Xiong, Y., Angeles, D., Cheung, M., Becker, B., Lai, P. S., Lei, Z., Malavasi, F., Tang, Q., Chew, S. H., and Ebstein, R. P. (2021). Blending oxytocin and dopamine with everyday creativity. Scientific Reports. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95724-x?proof=t%29Nature
Poston, L. (2021). The Surprising Link Between Sex and Work Productivity. Invigor Medical. https://www.invigormedical.com/lifestyle/the-surprising-link-between-sex-and-work-productivity/
Cheng, Z. & Smyth, R. (2015). Sex and happiness. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 112 26-32. https://ro.uow.edu.au/buspapers/724/
Charnetski, C. J. & Brennan, F. X. (2004). Sexual Frequency and Salivary Immunoglobulin A (IgA). Sage Journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/pr0.94.3.839-844?journalCode=prxa
