One of the recommendations to minimize the spread of coronavirus and other germs is to stop touching your face throughout the day. That is easier said than done. Studies show that most people on average touch their faces between nine and 23 times per hour.

Be aware of

• wiping your eyes

• scratching your noses

• biting your nails

• twirling your mustaches

• adjusting your glasses

• swiping hair off your face

In this popular science article, it goes over why we do it and provide some strategies for changing habitual behaviors and creating new responses.

Why do you touch your face?

• Anxiety

• Embarrassment

• Stress

• Habit when they aren’t feeling anything at all

Create new responses

• Clenching your fists

• Sitting on your hands

• Pressing your palms on the tops of your thighs

• Stretching you arms straight down by your sides

• Play with a (disinfected) object such as your fingertip, pen or stress ball

Link to original article in Popular Science (20 Mar 2020)