The COVID-era habits that made us happier and healthier
1 min readPhoto caption: People wear face masks while standing on the subway platform in New York City, days after pandemic restrictions, including mask mandates, social distancing guidelines, venue capacities and restaurant curfews were lifted. Photo by Noam Galai / Getty Images. Article bLaura Santhanam. PBS – June 29, 2021.
Many Americans are getting back to normal this summer, embracing the things they used to do without thinking — dining indoors, jetting off on vacation and hugging loved ones. But life has also changed, and for some it shows in new habits.
In the United States, the coronavirus pandemic seems to be loosening its hold, with nearly 180 million people at least partially vaccinated after more than a year of stringent public health recommendations. Getting to this point was both a personal and collective effort, as society yielded its routines in hopes of preventing sickness and death. From wearing masks, to work from home and remote school, and missing out on family time and doctors’ appointments, the coronavirus crisis altered our inner and outer lives. And behaviors picked up during the pandemic haven’t necessarily vanished once public health officials relaxed COVID-19 guidelines. […]