Health And Wellness Habits We Learned in 2020 That We’re Bringing With Us In 2021
The pandemic has changed our lives drastically—but in some ways, for the better. Here are some of the best health and wellness lessons that you should be bringing from 2020 to the next years to come
It’s truly an understatement to say that our life has changed after the Covid-19 pandemic. In many ways, we were forced to do things we don’t like or pay attention to before. We have been pushed outside our comfort zones. Many had to turn their lives upside down just to manage to survive.
But with the end of this pandemic in the horizon with news of the vaccine starting to get implemented in other countries, instead of focusing on the negative, let’s focus on the good lessons we’ve picked up from this year that hopefully, we should be carrying on in the next years.
Not everything has been bad; some things have been eye-opening for many of us. And if we play our cards right, we may be coming out of this year wiser, healthier, and more equipped to take on the challenges of the world.
Here are the best and most important health and wellness habits that we learned from the 2020 pandemic that we’re definitely keeping in our systems for the upcoming (and hopefully better) year ahead.
Wellness Lessons of 2020
Wellness Lessons of 2020
Handwashing goes a long way
This year, handwashing became the mantra of the CDC to reduce Covid-19 transmission. But more than Covid-19 prevention, frequent handwashing is actually a pretty solid habit. Proper handwashing can help prevent up to 40 percent of diarrhea-related illnesses and up to 21 percent of general respiratory infections. So, if you’re washing your hands better and more frequently than before, keep it up!
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Disinfect the door knob
…and other high-touch surfaces! We only took disinfection seriously this year, but before the pandemic, do you remember when was the last time you disinfected your door knobs, your ref handle, and other high-touch surfaces in your home? According to a study conducted by the Worcester Polytechnic institute, they found that 1,323 bacterial colonies were displaced among 27 door handles, with the possibility of infecting the person touching it with e-coli, fungal, or other viral infections. So, don’t stop disinfecting those frequently forgotten but high-touch surfaces!
Photo Credit: Thrive Global
Clean your mobile phone regularly
We carry our mobile phones literally everywhere—even in the toilet! This has led scientists at the University of Arizona to the findings that cell phones actually carry 10 times more bacteria than most toilet seats. Disinfecting your mobile phone daily should be a pretty good habit to keep even after the Covid-19 pandemic. The CDC recommends to dip or saturate a microfiber cloth in a solution that contains at least 70% alcohol to disinfect your mobile phone. Apple and Samsung also recommend using 70% Clorox wipes or alcohol wipes.
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Teleconsult when possible
Now that everyone is afraid to even step inside hospitals, telemedicine has become popular for people who combat the everyday flu and less serious cases. In fact, steering clear from hospitals in general is a good habit since hospitals are generally a high-risk zone. According to a 2017 article published in the American Journal of Infection Control, they found that 22 to 72 percent of hospital floors were positive with bacteria that can cause skin infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and diarrhea. So if you’re feeling something’s off and if it’s not too serious, hop on that teleconsultation first before rushing to the nearest ER.
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Eat better
More of us are now paying better attention to what we eat to keep our immunities up—and this is probably one of the best habits to keep doing for the rest of your life. Always focus on keeping fruits and vegetables on your diet, get your daily doses of Vitamin C, and just prioritize better eating in general. Good nutrition is one of your best weapons against any disease, even those that you have a genetic predisposition to. It is also crucial in improving your overall ability to fight and recover from any illness.
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Exercise regularly
Exercise has become so much popular now because we are not going out or walking around—and that’s a good thing to keep up! According to Harvard Health Publishing, exercise is the best-kept secret in preventive medicine. Regular exercise of at least 30 minutes a day can prevent heart attack, stroke, obesity, depression, and dementia. For best results, it’s also best to mix up your exercise—meaning, you can fulfill your daily dose of exercise from recreational activities like sports or biking, or even from regular household chores like washing the car, climbing up the stairs, or scrubbing the floor.
Photo Credit: Mor Shani/Unsplash
Mind your mental health
Even before the pandemic, mental health conditions were already prevalent, accounting for about 13% of diseases globally. And because of the stress and anxiety brought by the pandemic, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that many adults suffered from negative mental health impacts such as difficult sleeping and eating, increase in substance abuse, and overall worsening of chronic mental conditions. It’s great that we are now paying more attention to mental health, as we should be doing. And some good practices to adapt or continue even after this highly stressful time are taking breaks, taking care of your body through relaxing rituals, making time to pause and unwind, meditating, and connecting with other people when you think you need support.
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Develop an attitude of gratitude
This year, we were forced to look inwards and really find satisfaction in our own homes, and find the silver lining in the hardest of times. Bruce Rabin, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of pathology, psychology, and psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, says: “It’s also been a time of deep gratitude and reflection. [We] are turning inward more to find contentment and beauty in day-to-day life. We appreciate things like family and friends even more now.” You’ll be surprised how much shifting your perspective helps in your overall mental, emotional, and physical health. In fact, you’ll only have everything to gain and nothing to lose by focusing on the good things and finding happiness in what you already have.
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