It's a broken refrain: Americans are just too tired for sex. In the Romance and Parenting poll conducted last month by AreYouRomantic.com, 63 percent of women and 49 percent of men admitted to being too tired for sex. In this year's National Sleep Foundation "Sleep in America" poll, sleep-deprived people were more likely to not have sex (18 percent) compared to better sleepers (6 percent).

Being too tired for sex can take a toll on a couple's relationship. Although sex isn't the cornerstone of a good relationship, it's a dangerous and intimacy-eroding myth to think sex isn't important, states Dr. Phil McGrawl. Sexual activity gives couples a much-needed timeout from the daily grind of life and helps to enhance closeness, vulnerability and sharing.

Solutions to Keep Sex at the Forefront

• Get More Sleep. Sometimes the best solution is the most obvious. You can overcome some sleep problems with a few basic strategies, according to leading sleep experts. Sleep needs differ from person to person, but if you perform better on six hours, but only manage four or five, try to go to bed a bit earlier each night, until you reach your full quota.

Have trouble falling or staying asleep? Rethink your after-dinner routine. Don't eat at least two hours before your bedtime, and avoid drinking caffeine at least four hours before you go to bed. Try to stop working on the computer at least two hours before your bedtime. Research shows that computers emit light that signals to the body to stop producing melatonin, the "sleep hormone."

Other ways to improve nightly slumber include removing distractions (no T.V. or books), darkening your bedroom, going to bed the same time each night, and cooling a warm bedroom with a fan or air conditioner.

• Plan Romance. A weekly date night can recharge your relationship and help you overcome being too tired for sex. With that said, date night works best if you try new things together, for instance, a romantic dinner one week, rollerblading at a rink the next, or attending a tantric sex class the following week. Schedule date night in your planner and commit to keeping it.

• Have Backup. It's natural to worry about the kids when you're apart, especially if you're not used to being away from them for any length of time. To ease your concerns, schedule a reliable, experienced babysitter for your date night. Give the sitter contact numbers for emergencies. So you can spend some alone time at home together after your date, choose someone who will babysit in their own home.

• Redefine Sex. According to Dr. Trina Read, a sex coach and author of Till Sex Do Us Part: Make Your Married Sex Irresistible, after about two years the effects of the "love drugs" that get couples through the initial courtship phase of the relationship - dopamine and other amphetamine-like chemicals - begin to fade. Couples start to touch and appreciate each other less and less. However, touching, caressing, holding hands and little pecks are also important parts of a gratifying sex life.

• Exercise. Working out regularly energizes you, improves sleep quality - and also increases sexual arousal. Be proactive about finding time to workout. Order takeout to cut back on cooking time and go for an after-dinner walk. Join a gym at work and use some of your lunch hour for a fitness fix. Or, replace daily TV viewing with a bike ride or swim.

• Be Flexible. When the minutiae of daily life takes over it's easy for couples to fall into a romantic rut. If sex doesn't become non-existent, it's hurried and routine. Dr. Read points out that the same old sex routine leads to sexual monotony, which creates a lack of desire in many women. And while surveys say couples being too tired for sex is the main reason for sexless relationships, Read believes a lack of desire is a key reason.

If this sounds like you, be willing to try new things and be more creative, such as trying a new location, having a lunchtime rendezvous, or packing the kids off to the grandparents for a weekend while you reignite your relationship.

For more tips pick up a copy of Till Sex Do Us Part, or Tantric Sex for Busy Couples by sexuality and relationship expert, Diana Daffner. Hopefully, being too tired for sex will take on a whole new meaning.