If spending more quality time with your partner is a priority in the New Year, you could schedule date nights and talk about your feelings, but chances are nothing will make you two feel as intimately connected as sex.

Lovemaking releases the feel-good hormone oxytocin, which promotes trust, empathy and bonding. And while research shows that women produce more oxytocin -- and are therefore more likely to "let their guard down and fall in love with a man after sex" -- that doesn't mean men are immune to this wily little hormone.

In fact, one study found that men in monogamous relationships were less likely to display interest in women other than their partners, due to the effects of oxytocin.

There's no doubt yoga is a great stress-reducer, but sometimes the stress of making it to class outweighs the benefits. Instead, you can ditch your favorite yoga pose -- and the hassle of hauling ass to a studio -- in favor of striking your preferred sexual position from the comfort of your bedroom (or wherever it is you like to do the deed).

Sex not only helps lower your blood pressure, but it improves your ability to handle mentally stressful situations. According to findings published in "Biological Psychology" by Scottish researchers, individuals who had sex were better able to perform stressful tasks -- like verbal arithmetic and public speaking -- better than those who remained abstinent.

While many of us can easily rattle off the latest celebrity gossip or "Real Housewives" plotline, we may struggle a bit when it comes to speaking knowledgeably about (non pop culture-related) current affairs. If boosting your brainpower is one of your goals for 2016, you can't go wrong with picking up a book. Need help retaining that info? Sex is the answer.

In a recent study scientists found that middle aged mice had better memory function and -- get this -- grew new brain cells after mating.

So go ahead: Partake in a little, um, recreational stimulation, and you'll be able to regale friends with equally stimulating conversation about worldly matters -- and your amazing sex life.