Relationships3 min(s) read
A couple who challenged themselves to have sex for 31 days have revealed the surprising impact it had on their relationship.
Hannah, a married mom of two who goes by the handle @hannahwiththelipstick, went on an intimacy challenge with her husband, Daniel.
At the time, the couple had a 10-month-old baby and set themselves a simple goal: have "sex every single day for a month".
Hannah explained that while their relationship was already in a good place, becoming parents had made it easier for them to put physical intimacy "on the back burner".
The content creator revealed that she was the one who initiated the challenge, something she said had "shocked a lot of people".
"And just so you know, I'm not the type of girl that has this insane libido and wants to get it on all the time," she clarified.
"After becoming a mom, it was really easy for me to put off physical intimacy and to kind of just give in to being super tired, so I decided to get out of my comfort zone and do this 30-day challenge with my husband," she added.
By day 19, Hannah said she was already noticing an unexpected difference in their relationship.
"I'm shocked by how much this challenge has already helped our relationship," she said in the clip. "I've noticed that as we invest more and more in regular physical intimacy [and] our emotional intimacy has gotten so much deeper."
"If this is day 19, I'm honestly so excited to see how we're gonna feel in day 31."
After officially completing all 31 days, Hannah and Daniel said the experiment had brought them noticeably closer.
The surprising thing they noticed was the change in how they interacted with each other outside the bedroom.
"I felt like we had a lot less disagreements on especially on little things," Hannah said. "I felt like we had just so much more of a playful nature."
She said their "emotional intimacy increased during this challenge," helping them get "out of that daily grind of stress and more into a relaxed 'let's dream about our future' mindset".
Daniel also added that when they spent time together, they "enjoyed each other" and "communicated" about deeper subjects, including what they wanted for their future.
The husband has advised other couples looking to get involved to really consider each other's schedules and know when there would be "a time that is gonna be convenient for both of you," especially if you have children.
Hannah has also encouraged wives to have an "open mind" as it's "easy for us to get in our own heads and to decide what we think the outcome will be or to already sabotage ourselves before we even try something new".
"At least for me. I really struggle with that, and I'm not saying every couple should try this challenge," she continued.
"Some couples probably shouldn't; maybe their relationship is not in a place for that would be a healthy choice, but if you feel like this could be an opportunity for growth, just have an open mind. You never know what could happen," she said.
Hannah and Daniel said they expect to look back on the challenge as a "pivotal moment" in their relationship.
Their experience also drew praise from viewers, as one user said: "Congratulations!! Results sound to be all positive. Happy for you guys! Proof that it takes two. Thanks so much for sharing."
Another shared: "Thanks for sharing. Investment in relationships is always a good investment."
