"We Tested the 'Cinderella Rule' to Revive Our Sex Life – Now We're Enjoying Hotter Romps Twice a Week!"

ONCE upon a time a couple in a loving long-term relationship sadly found their sex life had taken a tragic nosedive.

If that sombre fairytale sounds familiar to you it might be time to introduce the ‘Cinderella rule’ into your .

Mum-of-two Claire Reilly and her partner Ashley Marcos went through a sex dry spell of three months Credit: Supplied The couple introduced the ‘Cinderella rule’ to get their sex life back on track Credit: Supplied

It’s something that exhausted mum-of-two Claire Reilly and her partner Ashley Marcos tried after a – and it’s had sizzling consequences.

Claire says: “We hadn’t had for about three months – it was probably the longest we had ever gone without it, just because of life, work, , everything…

“It was hard to find the time to have a proper conversation, let alone to connect intimately and we could go a whole day without even kissing.”

Enter the ‘Cinderella rule,’ which combines with setting a cut-off time for intimacy before midnight.

The life hack, named after the classic fairytale where Cinderella’s carriage turns into a pumpkin at 12pm, aims to ensure couples prioritise intimacy before exhaustion sets in and they get enough for the following day.

It was coined by sex and relationships reporter Alice Giddings, who swears by the rule.

She says: “My ‘turn into a pumpkin’ cut off is 10:30pm, and ideally this is when it’ll be lights out and off to snoozeville.”

Claire and Ashley, both 40, implemented the rule three months ago.

She says: “It has been great for our relationship. We like to spread it out a little bit so we have sex on Tuesdays and Fridays, with a cut off time of 10pm as we like to be asleep by 10.30pm.”

Prior to their drought, the pair had always enjoyed a healthy sex life.

“In early days our sex life was a lot more spontaneous,” says the mum-of-two. I lived in and Ashley lived down south so we only saw each other at weekends, which were pretty sex-fuelled.

“The sex was good, we used to do it three times a week which became once a week when we moved in together and started having children.

“We’re not very romantic but Ashley does go all out on special occasions – I’ll get a big bunch of flowers and some chocolates on and we’ll go out for dinner.”

But before they knew it, with busy careers, a five-year-old son and four-year-old daughter, weeks had gone by without any hint of action.

Research suggests UK couples with children have sex between one and four times a month on average, with up to a quarter in .

Sex coach Katy Orah says the ‘Cinderella rule’ is a fantastic idea – especially for knackered, time-poor parents.

Parents Claire and Ashley say scheduling sex has been great for their love life, and the mum now feels sexier Credit: Supplied Sex coach Katy Orah says the ‘Cinderella rule’ is a fantastic idea for knackered parents Credit: Supplied

“People say kills the mood, but as a sex coach I believe neglect kills the mood,” she explains. “The ‘Cinderella rule’ works because it respects real life.

“Couples I work with often parent when they are tired, go to work when they are tired, make appointments when they are tired and the truth is you can also have sex when you are tired. Everytime you schedule sex, it shows you care about each other.”

Adding a cut-off time for when intimacy is no longer on the cards means couples can do their best to avoid burnout in their busy lives.

“The ‘Cinderella rule’ takes away the emotional back and forth, the guessing, the hesitation, the moments of ‘not tonight’ or ‘maybe tomorrow’,” says Katy.

Claire, from Rushington in West Sussex, says scheduling sex with a ticking clock has made her feel sexier.

“You get yourself ready for it, make yourself look better and start to feel more confident,” she says.

“You know it’s going to happen and sometimes you think: ‘Yeah, tonight I’m feeling it’.

“You can have a nice bath and pamper yourself. I’m not getting any younger so it’s nice to feel sexy again.”

Joe Wicks revealed how he planned nookie once a week with wife Rosie to make sure it happened Credit: Anthony Harvey Prior to their drought, the pair had enjoyed a spontaneous sex life Credit: Supplied

The live concert promoter said weekends were out when it came to booking in intimacy due to their kids’ hectic schedules, meaning Tuesdays and Fridays were the days of choice when it came to getting some action.

“We work all week, but the kids go to bed at a reasonable time, by 7.30pm, leaving us time together, so evenings are just a bit more chill in the week,” she says.

“Before we implemented the ‘Cinderella rule’, we’d make and eat dinner together and then we’d crash out in front of the .

“Now, we sometimes try and do it quite quickly when they’ve gone to bed, before we start settling down for the evening which is a bit more fun because it’s not usually in the bedroom. It’s usually in the living room but maybe in the kitchen if we’re feeling really frisky.

“Then at other times, it will be just before we go to sleep. It’s a nice balance of a bit more fun and a bit more cozy and relaxing, before we turn over and go to sleep.”

Claire also feels more connected to Ashley, who is equally delighted by their .

“I look forward to our scheduled sex every week,” says the businessman, who works in large format printing. “It has definitely made us reconnect intimately and has also brought some fun back into our love life.

“We have a cut-off time of 10pm as we’re too tired after that. It’s usually after or before , depending on what’s on.”

Claire adds: “When you’re younger spontaneous sex is great, but obviously that does diminish as you get older and in a long term relationship.

“It sounds bad, but it used to get to the point where I just wanted to take sex off the list and feel like I’d done it for the week.

“I think women can often go without sex for longer and men struggle more physically. Ashley definitely gets antsy if it’s been a while.”

Celebrities are also using the Cinderella rule to spice up their love lives.

Fitness coach revealed back in 2020 how he with wife to make sure it happened amid their busy lives with young children.

Sexpert Katy believes many couples struggling to find the time or inclination to have sex could benefit from the ‘Cinderella rule’ to find the ‘happily ever after’ in their relationships, just like in the classic fairytale.

“It doesn’t need to be hard core, 365 days a year style,” she explains.

“I see couples who think desire ‘should just happen’ and they seem to be more overwhelmed and annoyed at each other when it doesn’t.

“But just ten minutes of intentional connection through touch and intimacy together can spark that flame. Anyone can get in the mood, you just need to know how.”

• Katy Orah is an intimacy coach and relationship therapist and can be found at yourcouplesintimacy.com .