The pandemic has ruined our sex lives, but a survey shows we’re eyeing co-workers and turning to rampaging robots

AFTER a grueling few years, our libido revs up in anticipation of a sex-rich future.

According to Lelo’s 2022 Sex Census, one in five of us is having more sex than we did before 2020.

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The sex wellness company has surveyed 4,000 adults about their sex habits over the past 18 months.

Participants were also asked what the future holds – and the results make for enticing reading.

Almost half of us (44 percent) have had less sex than before in the past 18 months — or no sex at all.

One in ten said they hadn’t even kissed another person during that time.

Instead of working from home, 14 percent look to colleagues for connections.

But in the not too distant future, we may turn to virtual reality porn or even sex robots to get our kicks, according to the survey.

Market watchers at investment firm Piper Sandler predict the VR porn industry will be worth £840m by 2025.

And one in five of us (22 percent) would consider getting fizzy with a robot.

If you’re struggling with a skinny spot in your sex life, sex expert Kate Taylor has eight tips to follow, whether you’re a couple or single.

CHILL OUT

Sex is a great antidote to anxiety, lowers the stress chemical cortisol, stabilizes blood pressure, and releases happy endorphins.

Too scared to feel playful? Start with a topless massage. Skin-to-skin contact releases oxytocin in the body and helps you feel calmer.

Use a sensual oil with lavender like Neal’s Yard Aromatic Massage Oil (lookfantastic.com, £12.50).

COME TOGETHER

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It’s normal (and okay) to enjoy solo sex in a relationship. . . but it’s more fun to tinker together.

Play a sexy role-playing game where you are not allowed to touch. Then touch each other while you both watch.

Or bring a remote control sex toy to bed so you can be the boss of each other’s parts. Try the Fusion Love Egg (£42, Ann Summers) for her.

For him, try We-Vibe’s Verge Perineum Stimulator (£89, we-vibe.com).

HUG APPS

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Forget looking for love on TikTok or flirting on Facebook. You will only look scruffy, not sexy.

Asking friends or family members to set you up also has its pitfalls.

Use a dating site or app and get a platonic friend of the type you want to attract to double check your profile before posting it.

Add words that are known to grab attention. According to a Match study, men send the most messages to women’s profiles that use the word “gaming,” while women write to profiles that mention “family.”

EASIER

If you worry about your performance or comparing yourself to porn stars, sex becomes more of a work than a pleasure. Relieve yourself to reignite your libido.

Tonight, aim to have FUN and not just sex. Put on an upbeat playlist, start a pillow fight, and scribble dirty messages on each other with body pens.

Do an exaggerated striptease or bang your favorite movie sex scene.

GET TECHNICAL

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Prepare for a robocop because the future of sex technology is VERY bright. You might not be ready for an electronic lover just yet, but you can still enjoy the latest gimmicks to get you there.

Try Lelo’s latest hi-tech toy, SILA (£135, lelo.com), which uses sound waves to stimulate her teeth.

A VR headset like Meta Quest 2 (£299, Argos) immerses you and your partner in 3D adult content from sites like SexLikeReal and VR Bangers.

PEAK ONCE A WEEK

A famous 2015 study found that couples only need to have sex once a week to achieve the highest level of happiness and contentment. That gives you 26 more bonks this year.

Together, make a list of 13 sexy thrills that you would all love to experience.

Includes fantasies, roleplay, positions, foreplay techniques, locations, everything. Take turns bringing one to life each week.

SWAP YOUR WATCHES

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Seventeen percent of respondents said caring for children prevented them from having sex.

Raising young children can leave couples feeling exhausted from bedtime — and teenage offspring can also ruin your love life by keeping odd hours or having to drive home at midnight.

Try switching to BST (British Sex Timetable) before the start of the summer holidays and making love before the kids wake up.

Early morning sex makes the most of men’s natural 7 am testosterone surge.

LOVE YOURSELF

Don’t be ashamed of being celibate. Research has found that people with body confidence issues are less likely to initiate sex and find sex less pleasurable than those who are self-accepting.

Try a mindful sex practice. Every time you have a negative thought about how your body looks, immediately think a positive thought about how your body feels.

For example, if you’re thinking, “My thighs look huge,” follow this: “I love how it feels when my partner kisses them.” Do it every time and you’ll become less self-critical.