TOUCHING OUR FACES!!

Every authority keep saying "avoid touching the face" as a protection from Covid-19 but surely it is so much easier said than done! Whether it is scratching an itch or resting the chin in our hand, this Covid-19 outbreak has made us aware of our instinctive urge to touch our faces.  A 2015 study, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, observed a group of medical students touching their faces an average of 23 times an hour. 

There are many reasons why we touch our faces. One school of thought says the touching of the face might be a social function that shows instinctively the state of our mind like for example, when we are anxious. Another says this could be some sort of leftover behavior from our primate grooming through evolution. In short, nobody really knows why we touch our faces so many times a day!

There are three possible triggers as to why people touch their faces. One of those is when people are concentrating on something and particularly so when they are trying to keep their attention focused on a task, often we find people touching their faces. Secondly, ​when we are feeling a bit anxious, people tend to touch their faces. And finally for the obvious reason when we have an itch or have to adjust our lipstick or whatever.

It is very difficult to break the habit of touching our faces. The thing with habits is that very often we do not realize we are doing them; so they are actions that occur without our conscious thought. So naturally habits are a very tricky thing to break, particularly when you have a long history of engaging in those habits.

However, there are some practical tips to help stop us from touching our faces. When you feel the urge to scratch an itch, rub your nose or adjust your glasses, grab a tissue and use that instead of your fingers. If you feel you have to sneeze but do not have a tissue handy, then aim your sneeze into your upper sleeves rather than your hands.

You have to pause throughout the day to notice your compulsive behavior. Once you are aware of when and why you touch your face, addressing the root problem can be an effective solution. For example, if you find yourself rubbing your eyes because they are dry, then use moisturizing drops. If you are using your hand as a chin rest or to adjust your hair regularly, then be aware of these actions. Keeping your hand occupied with a stress ball or other object can reduces the instances of touching your face and minimize triggers. You can place your hands together on your lap or find another way to actively engage them so that you do not touch your face much. Using scented soap or lotion could also help. When you bring your hands close to your face, that distinctive smell could make you aware of your action. 

It is even more difficult to discourage children from touching their faces. Parents have to praise their children when they are not touching their faces, which is more important than stopping them from doing it. Parents can set up little incentives like stickers, toys, treats or even extra playtime as reward for not touching their faces. While the positive reinforcement is key, parents can also help their kids become more aware of their face touching habit by simply pointing it out to them. Playing with a small ball, encouraging them to put their hands in their pockets or playing a game which uses their hands may distract them away from touching their faces.

They are also a whole bunch of really strange gadgets coming out to help us draw our attention when we try to touch our faces, like you could get a wristband that vibrates or there is an application that tracks your movement and tells you off whenever it seems as if you are moving your hands towards your face.

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