Many of us have passed the six-week point in quarantine. For those lucky enough—or unlucky enough—to be marooned with a partner, this may be when things start to fray. The frustrating habits you formerly had a workplace refuge from are now your 24-7 reality.

Of the challenges couples may be dealing with, bedroom boredom is a big one. Physical intimacy is one of the few joys folks have left right now, and the increased time together is a great opportunity to refresh your sexy-time repertoire. And there’s arguably no better form of sexual escapism than pretending to be someone else.

Enter sexual role-play. Your brain is your biggest sex organ, and role-play is an easy and safe way to test the limits of your imagination.

Sex is primal, but it does not have to be unthoughtful. Variety is the spice of life.

Recent stats show that more and more couples are discovering this. We reached out to Alicia Thompson, director of brand marketing at Yandy, a lingerie and costume company that has experienced a significant uptick in sales since quarantine started. (Full disclosure: Yandy is owned by Playboy’s parent company.)

“People want to transport themselves out of what’s going on during quarantine,” she tells Playboy. “They are allowing themselves to push their boundaries a little bit more and maybe try to seek out pleasure in a new way.”

From March 15 to April 12, Yandy saw a 31 percent increase in sales of its bedroom costumes, with the first major spike on March 22, which is no coincidence: That was the first weekend of lockdown for many states, including California and New York. The top costume searches for March and April were the expected role-play fare—schoolgirl, French maid, sexy nurse—plus tiger, a newcomer whose popularity Thompson attributes to a certain Netflix show. The latest numbers had Yandy sales up a whooping 136 percent year over year. All signs point to stir-crazy partners looking to liven up their routines.

Sophie Saint Thomas, popular sex writer and author of the upcoming Sex Witch: Magickal Spells for Love, Lust, and Self-Protection, describes role-play as “make-believe with very real orgasms.” She says her role-play has increased in quarantine: She and her boyfriend enjoy cheerleader, housewife and complete-stranger scenarios.

“When you’re stuck alone with one other person in a studio apartment, you’ve got to keep the sex interesting or else you’ll start to hate one another,” she tells us. “Sex is primal, but it does not have to be unthoughtful. Variety is the spice of life.”

Playboy also reached out to sexpert Jess O’Reilly, Ph.D. and host of the @SexWithDrJess podcast, to get the lowdown on integrating role-play into your quarantine.

“Engaging in role-play is the antidote to boredom in the bedroom. This may be just what you need to get in the mood for sex when life is full of distractions or feels overwhelming,” she says.

O’Reilly adds that the best role-play scenarios are often ones that stray from the roles you occupy in real life: “If you manage great responsibility at work or in the home, you may derive great pleasure from indulging in a submissive role. And if you spend most of your days catering to everyone else’s needs, playing a selfish role may be the perfect escape from reality.”

She emphasizes that couples shouldn’t fixate on choosing a scenario; start by considering what emotion you’re attempting to evoke and choose a scenario from there. If you want to feel more powerful or more submissive, try a scenario that revolves around a switch of the usual dynamics, such as boss and assistant. Want to feel safe or rescued? A firefighter scene may make sense.

Above all, setting boundaries is necessary in any new sexual exploration, and great communication can’t be understated. Your likes and dislikes should be an ongoing conversation with your partner. A few questions O’Reilly encourages you to ask: What words turn you on? What scenarios make you uncomfortable? What fears underlie this discomfort? How will you check in with one another during a role-play?

What about those who can’t drop cash on elaborate costumes and props? Far more important than any getup is your own mind. With dirty talk, it’s possible to create and fulfill any fantasy.

“Use your words,” O’Reilly says. “You can weave stories, play roles, switch personalities, make empty promises that feel real—with consent—and lead your lover into far-off sexual and emotional lands.”

Getting down to brass tacks, O’Reilly’s offers three pieces of must-know advice for beginners:

Once you’ve absorbed the basic tips and tricks, consider these looks—fun, easy to find and excellent for beginners.

Miss flying and travel? A “mile-high club stewardess” or “flight captain” costume could be what you need. In a world overrun with chaos, want to feel like you can still be your own superhero? Try on this “Glamazonian” fit for size. Need to pretend you’re in a magical realm far, far away from the monotony of quarantine? Check out some princess lingerie.

No matter the fantasy, most likely there’s already a costume or at least some racy dialogue for it. This strange moment in history allows couples to reevaluate their sex lives and adopt more adventurous attitudes. There’s no better time to step out of your comfort zone and fearlessly explore what brings you pleasure.

The products linked to in this article are sold by Yandy, which is owned by Playboy’s parent company.