How to Stop Touching Your Face
At this point, many people are well aware of two main strategies to slow the spread of the coronavirus: wash your hands and don’t touch your face.
Sure you can wash your hands for 20 seconds after touching any new surface without touching your face? Just like others? But how?
Research shows that people touch their face about 23 times an hour (often subconsciously), so how can you break this habit if you don’t even know you are doing it?
First, you must draw attention to the action. Post notes around the house saying “Don’t touch your face” – even make it your phone background. Then start changing your behavior. Do you usually cover your face with your hands? Put your fingers on your chin when you are seriously thinking? Rubbing your eyes or biting your nails? Understand when you are most likely to do these things and replace them with something else. You can fiddle with an elastic band around your wrist, tie your fingers and put them on your lap, or do knitting.
You can also use barriers to make it less comfortable to touch your face. Wear glasses to avoid rubbing your eyes, get a manicure to avoid biting your nails, or wear makeup to keep it from smudging. If you tend to scratch your face, use a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and carry eye drops with you so you don’t have to rub your eyes.
Of course, if you absolutely must touch your face, use a clean tissue and discard it immediately. And if you’ve made it through all of this video without touching your own face, then you’ve earned yourself a reward for preventing COVID-19.