It’s cold season.
Did we learn nothing during a pandemic? If you like to rub your eyes, pick at your nose (or nosering), wipe your mouth — Don’t do it! Or be sure your hands are freshly washed. Then maybe wash them again.
It’s ok to wash your hands 20+ times a day. IMO you don’t need antibacterial soaps that dry your hands out, just soap. Move the soap around for a bit and rinse with warm-hot water.
If handwashing isn’t an option, consider using the inside of your shirt to rub eyes, nose, mouth. It’s not that gross. And it’s less gross than what is on your hands. Or, use a tissue.
These handsy habits are possibly learned by observing and mimicking others, including family members. I know! Watching someone going to town rubbing their eyes Looks So Good you have to try it too. Adding to the mimicry list: forward head posture (it’s not genetic) and slouching (teenagers copying each other). Consider bacterial and viral loads that enter our bodies through the eyes (pinkeye, herpes), nose (anything bad) and mouth (anything bad).
If your habits are allergy related, challenge yourself to find other methods of relief. Quick wash your eyes in the sink or use a warm compress (wet cloth) throughout the day. This also helps with “Dry Eye” as it redistributes the oils in the eyes. If your nose and mouth are affected by allergies, treat it as if you had a cold so viruses don’t enter your body and then you have an infection, plus allergies.
Other things people say and do when sick:
I don’t think I’m contagious.
How do you know? It’s generally accepted that if you are still having symptoms you are still shedding virus.
It’s just a cough.
That’s how it spreads. Don’t be around people. Definitely cover your mouth with your arm. Not into your hand like the woman at Trader Joe’s the other day that then touched all the vanilla products in the baking aisle. Every time I reach for vanilla that I don’t have, I think of that woman. Don’t be that woman.
Remember, if I’m noticing these behaviors others are too. Yes, we are rolling our eyes at you. I’m pretty sure it’s considered impolite to openly criticize others for germ-transferring behavior. Other countries have social courtesy precautions in place. In Italy, you can’t touch the fruit at the market unless wearing a plastic glove. Luckily, I saw someone doing that before squeezing the fruit.
Masks are Cool.
Why were doctors the only one’s wearing masks pre-covid? I still wear masks with clients when working near the face, mostly because it seems polite not to potentially spit in your eye. You can wear a mask if you’re not sure you’re contagious while recovering from a cold. There are still stylish ones for sale. I like MaskC or Kind. brands.
Greeting Others
I’m a huge fan of the no-hand-touching greeting. What is wrong with looking someone in the eyes and connecting that way? Even hugs seem less likely to transfer germs since you’re just touching clothing and you can turn your face away. Although, there is another peeve, see below (Peeve cont’d).
In conclusion, don’t touch your face.
This is the official end of the article.
Peeve cont’d:
Hugs and the transfer of perfume. I don’t want to smell your fragrance, or deodorant (men) for the rest of the day or event. Also, please consider others are sensitive to fragrance. One pump or dab is plenty — remember Grammy with the White Shoulders? Ugh. We think she couldn’t smell it after awhile. But that’s another blog story.
What’s with the over-fragranced detergents and smelly beads for your clothes, I don’t get it. It makes your clothes and the neighborhood smell like chemical fragrance. PFAS on your skin? Hard Pass.
I’m not a fragrance hater. I’m a lover of essential oils to set the mood or an intention in a diffuser. I appreciate that the scent dissipates quickly and try to use sparingly in my studio with clients. If you ever want me to turn it off, please tell me!
Sessions With Melissa 
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