In the midst of a pandemic, we have all had to become more mindful of our personal hygiene habits. As we continue further into 2021, it’s important to take a moment to revisit our personal hygiene needs and routine in order to make it an even healthier and happier year. Below are a few of the cleanliness habits that might have slipped your mind over the craziness of the last year, and how to best incorporate them into your daily routine.

Use Gentle Products

Increasingly, people have started to develop sensitivities to the harsh chemicals and fragrances that are used in many popular beauty products on today’s market. While you may not realize it, many of these products can have adverse effects on your skin and well-being in the long run. Luckily, you can find ethically sourced products that include no synthetic fragrance, SLS, parabens, or sulfates. This type of gentle beauty care can soothe the skin and nourish the body with natural ingredients. In 2021, take responsibility for knowing exactly what goes into the products you use on a daily basis and ensure that you are only investing in quality products.

Don’t Neglect Your Contacts Care

It’s common for people to have vision impairments, and for many, wearing contacts offers an easy and effective solution. While they are a great replacement to wearing glasses, contacts unfortunately also opens the door for a variety of health and hygiene concerns.

Because putting in contacts requires direct contact with your eye, neglecting to properly sanitize your hands can do some serious damage. Considering that your hands can produce 2,097,152 bacteria in just 7 hours, it’s critical to thoroughly wash your hands before putting in or taking out your lenses. A good place to start is to find a good liquid soap with a scent you like to encourage this healthy habit as a daily practice.

Similarly, many people fall asleep or wear contacts for several days longer than they should. Because wearing the wrong types of contacts for extended periods of time can lead to losses in vision and eye infection, adjusting your type of contacts can help you practice better hygiene. Luckily, if you struggle with the daily change of lenses, looking into longer term options or overnight lenses can eliminate the need to replace them everyday and protect your vision in the long run.

Remember the Essentials When Out and About

Although you’ve likely spent more time at home, it is still important to get out of the house. That being said, your personal hygiene should be something that you stay diligent of, especially during a pandemic.

There are three key essentials to taking care of yourself when out in public; having a mask, carrying hand sanitizer, and thoroughly washing your hands. Having a clean, fully covering mask can protect you from spreading or contracting germs. If you are using a reusable mask, be sure to stay on top of cleaning every few uses. Carrying a quality hand sanitizer is useful for a quick cleanup when you come in contact with public places—think about door handles! And lastly, being sure to wash your hands thoroughly with warm soapy water for a minimum of 20 seconds to keep you fresh, clean, and most importantly protected.

Set Cleaning Habits

As mentioned, 2021 has already been a year allowing for many people to spend extended amounts of time at home. While this has allowed people to connect more with family and experience remote work, it unfortunately also means that little tasks have been swept under the rug and pushed aside. With this change in schedule, take a moment to revisit some of your smaller cleaning habits.

Take your laundry for example. As you may be spending more time in sweatpants, it may feel easier to neglect doing laundry on a consistent schedule. Try implementing a laundry cycle routine that promotes normalcy during these crazy times and holds you responsible for practicing clean habits. What’s better than a fresh load of laundry?

Similarly, because you may not be leaving your house it’s easy to forget simply personal hygiene things like brushing your teeth, washing your face, or putting on deodorant. What once seemed like a brainless part of your day now takes a little extra effort. Invest in yourself and strive to wake up each morning with a fresh start despite limited departures from the house. You’ll feel better both physically and mentally when you prioritize your hygiene.

Your personal hygiene can be a reflection of how you feel, so taking a few extra moments to yourself each day to practice these tips can go a long way in boosting your mood. Stay happy and healthy as you continue into 2021 and take care of yourself!