Cultivating Healthy Habits in Turbulent Times

摘要

Touching our face is a habit that almost all of us have-the average person does it 23 times an hour, according to the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. In good times, it seems relatively innocuous, but now it can be a life-and-death issue, particularly for those over 60 or in compromised health. We also have received other advice to help limit the spread of COVID-19-to wash our hands regularly and thoroughly; not hug or shake hands; cough into our elbows; avoid crowds; and keep a safe distance from others. The problem is that these healthy behaviors are habits that we need to cultivate and, as we know, habits are notoriously hard to develop and change. Any behavior, good or bad, that we repeat often enough will become a habit. It then will be controlled by automatic and unconscious brain processes rooted in the "survival" brain-and, when we intentionally try to change established habits, the habits tend to win out over the good intentions (see New Year's resolutions).