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Topics: Sex and Relationships, Science
You might think of January 1st as a day of relaxation, or for fending off the mother of all hangovers.
It turns out, though, that for many people it's prime time to be getting it on.
Before Dry January kicks in, many people decide to kick off the New Year with some romance to see in 2026. So why is it a popular day for sex, instead of ordering a takeaway and loafing around all day?
An app called Clue carried out a load of research from data users uploaded about their sexual activity, as the app tracks ovulation.
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January 1 came up as the most popular day, even more so than Valentine's Day and Christmas, or long, hot, summer nights.
What could it be about New Year's Day that's got us all hot under the collar?
The data logged suggested people were feeling sexier than normal on New Year's Day, so it's safe to assume they weren't feeling hungover.
Dr Charis Chambers is the chief medical officer at Clue, and told Metro: "People are often surprised when they hear that January 1st is the most popular day for logging sex in the UK, but to me it reflects something fundamental about how our bodies and minds work."
Most people don't have to work on New Year's Eve or Day, and rest can lead to romantic urges.
Gigi Engle, a sex and relationships psychotherapist from 3Fun, says it's all to do with 'survival mode'.
She said it happens when we manage to take time off from work and the pressures we face.
On New Year's Day, we have 'fewer obligations, fewer demands, and more physical closeness with our partners'.
The sex expert says it's the fact that New Year's isn't an obvious day, which makes it so sexy.
Unlike Valentine's Day where people feel a lot of pressure, most of us are much more relaxed on New Year's Day, and Gigi says 'from a psychophysiological perspective, this context is far more erotically supportive than a forced “romantic” holiday like Valentine’s Day, which often comes with pressure and expectations (which are two major desire killers)'.
Everyone getting it on for New Year's Day also explains why September is the most popular month for births in the UK. It confirms that more people are having sex around this time, and it's resulting in more babies.
The Office for National Statistics says September 26 is the most common birthday for the last two decades.
It just so happens to fall 39 weeks and two days after Christmas Day.
What if you're not feeling sexy and worry that you're the odd one out?
It's totally normal if New Year's Day is an 'emotionally loaded' day for you, and not the snoozefest everyone else expects, says Gigi.
‘It can be marked by anxiety, reflection, or dread about what’s ahead in the year to come. Stress doesn’t look the same for everyone, and neither does desire,’ she says.
The overall lesson is that it's important to take time and relaxation for yourself, and to see what happens without any pressure or expectation.
