Has it been a while? We’ve all been there — you can’t remember the last time you felt the warm touch of another, and there are no prospects in sight. But before you fill out that application to join a convent, take a deep breath and relax. Breaking the cycle when you’ve gone too long without sex is easier — and safer — than you might think.

It’s important to get back in touch with your body and the sexual energy that’s inside. When you go too long without sex, the hormones and neurotransmitters that pump through your body when you’re having sex decline. Because of this, you may simply stop feeling sexual, and you may not be sending the right “signals” to a potential partner.

Here are some suggestions for hastening the end of the drought:

Flirt. Even if it’s the last person you would ever go out with, use it as a confidence-boosting opportunity. Turn on the charm — smile and practice some skills you may be too nervous to try on a real love interest.

Masturbate. Regularly. Make sure you’re staying in the game, so to speak, by having a little fun on the sidelines. Self-stimulation offers both chemical and physical benefits — and you just might learn something new about your sexual response while you’re at it.

Buy a few erotic novels. By erotic, I mean whatever tickles your fancy. From a classic like D.H. Lawrence’s Women in Love to good old Danielle Steel, keeping sex on the brain infuses you with sensuality. Thankfully, there are scores of excellent books under the heading of female erotica.

Whatever you do, don’t lose hope! Before you know it, you’ll be back in the game and in the right frame of mind to find yourself a partner!