Making a Kinky New Year’s Resolution

January always comes with that collective itch to reset, refresh, and reimagine the year ahead. Most Aussies make resolutions at the start of the year, but research suggests that roughly 92% of Australians don’t stick with them throughout the year—meaning only about 8% actually keep their promises. But here’s the good news: when it comes to your sex life, goals don’t have to feel like chores. They can be playful, curiosity-driven, and wildly rewarding.

So if you think about it, choosing a kinky New Year’s resolution might be the most fun – and sustainable – promise you make to yourself in 2026.

This year, instead of making a resolution of vowing to fold laundry immediately or drink eight glasses of water a day, consider something far more exciting: expanding your erotic menu. It doesn’t matter whether you’re single, partnered, or delightfully entangled (read, complicated), the start of the year is the perfect opportunity to explore new desires, deepen intimacy, and discover what truly lights your body up.

Start with low-pressure exploration (aka sexy research)

Before trying anything new in the bedroom, it helps to get familiar with the landscape. And one of the easiest entry points is reading. As a spicy romance author myself, I’ll say this with absolute confidence: romance novels are the safest, most exciting sandbox for exploring new kinks.

You get a front-row seat to how characters negotiate boundaries, what a kink feels like emotionally, and how arousal builds in context. It’s foreplay for the brain, without any real-world risk. You’ll know quickly whether something is your cup of tea—or absolutely not.

Could you google the kink? Sure.

Could you watch p*rn about it? Absolutely.

But reading it unfolds differently. The tension builds. You get to walk in the protagonist’s shoes. You feel their anticipation, their vulnerability, their thrill. It’s character-driven curiosity, therefore it’s the perfect spark for figuring out what you might enjoy in your own bedroom.

If something you read makes your pulse quicken… that’s often your sign to explore further.

Once you have a sense of what excites you, the next step is to communicate with your partner.

Read more: Why erotic romance is booming by Jade May.

A simple framework for your sexy resolutions

I find a simple three-column list can be really helpful here. Take a piece of paper, and write down things you’ve read about.

• Things I want to try
• Things I’m unsure about
• Things I’m not interested in

Your partner makes the same list. Then you sit down together, swap notes, and see where your desires overlap.

These conversations can feel intimidating at first, but they often lead to deeper intimacy—and better sex. Instead of guessing, hoping, hinting, or waiting for the “right moment,” you both get direct insight into each other’s pleasure.

This is the foundation everything else rests on. Every kink, experiment and new experience starts with clear, honest communication.

Read more: How do I ask for kinky sex by David Hollingworth.

Resolution Worthy Kinks in 2026

The world of kink is huge, but to keep things simple, here are three resolution-friendly options that don’t require complex gear or intensive skill, only curiosity, consent, and communication.

Exhibitionism & Voyeurism: Showing Off, Watching On, or Both

Exhibitionism is arousal from being seen. Voyeurism is arousal from watching.

For some people, it’s the thrill of being caught. And for others, it’s the erotic tension of watching something unfold quietly from the sidelines.

And for many, it’s not about physical exposure at all but the idea of being seen or being watched—which means you can explore this kink without ever leaving the privacy of your home.

How to try it in a low risk way:

• Send each other private videos or lingerie photos (securely, consensually).
• Try semi-public play such as fooling around under the covers while at home with the blinds open.
• Mutual masturbation while watching each other—simple, intimate, incredibly hot.
• Roleplay scenarios where one of you “accidentally” walks in on the other.
• If you’re more adventurous, many cities have sex-positive parties, clubs, and kink communities where watching or being watched is encouraged (with consent). These spaces can be an empowering way to explore your exhibitionist or voyeuristic side in a judgment-free environment.

Impact Play: Spanking & Sensation Play

Impact play is about rhythm, trust, adrenaline, and erotic power dynamics. Whether you prefer a gentle warm-up spanking or a firmer impact with paddles, crops, or floggers, this kink is entirely customisable.

Before you begin, agree on a safe word and decide which parts of the body are in-bounds. Start slowly—warm-up taps are your friend. And check in regularly, especially with beginners. The beauty of impact play is how broad the spectrum is. It can be playful, sensual, disciplinary, or deeply erotic. And like any kink, the goal isn’t pain (unless it’s masochism)—it’s pleasure, control, surrender, and connection.

A soft paddle can deliver a thuddy, satisfying impact. A flogger offers a mix of sting and sensation. Even your bare hand can create a delicious pattern of heat across your partner’s skin. If you’re curious, make this your resolution: try one new tool, one new technique, or one new intensity level each month.

Read more: Sensory play for deeper connection by Laura Lee.

Orgasm Control: Teasing, Denying, & Commanding Release

Few kinks build anticipation like orgasm control. At its core, this kink is about power exchange—one partner gives up control of their orgasm, while the other takes charge of when (or even if) release happens.

It can involve:

• Edging (bringing someone close to orgasm, then backing off)
• Orgasm denial
• Forced orgasms
• Ruined orgasms

This resolution works beautifully for long-distance couples too—voice notes, timers, sex toys, and video calls all play nicely with this kink.

The key is to negotiate clearly beforehand:

• How far will you go?
• What are the limits?
• Is the goal one orgasm… or many?
• How will the submissive partner signal discomfort or the need to slow down?

When done right, orgasm control creates a level of intimacy that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere.

It’s teasing and psychological play wrapped into one.

Your kinky resolution buffet

Trying new kinks shouldn’t feel like a lifestyle overhaul. This is meant to be fun and deeply pleasurable – you’re not training for a marathon or swearing off chocolate.  So if you try something and you’re not feeling it? Move on. There’s no pressure or boxes to tick. A resolution is not a contract. It’s an invitation, one you can accept, decline, or modify whenever you want.

Think of these resolutions as a buffet. Sample what you like and ignore the rest. Go back for seconds of anything that hits the spot.

If you want to dip your toe into exhibitionism, experiment with spanking, or surrender to orgasm control, the goal isn’t to “achieve” something—it’s to experience pleasure more fully. To connect with your body and your partner. To let sex be something that excites you again. And most importantly: to have fun.

Let 2026 be the year you welcome the pleasure you’ve long deserved.