The pandemic has forced many of us to slow down and smell the roses. Some did passion projects, took the time to pick up a self-improvement activity, or generally stopped and reassess what they would like to do with their life. As it is generally known, our body is the most important resource that we have so we need to take care of ourselves and invest in it.
As our body recovers mentally, emotionally, and physically, we have made ourselves capable of refocusing our priorities on the things that really matter. One of those things is our health and well-being.
Most self-care and home improvement activities start with cleanliness and it is for a reason.
Our body and the extension of it, which is our home is a blank canvas wherein we design and maintain however we desire. Having a clean slate and canvas will make the entire creation which is ourselves more pleasant and comfortable to live with and to be with.
This not only applies to the body or our dwelling, this can also be for where we study and work. Of course, more often than not this would not be our possession or responsibility. There would be people hired to do that duty and it would not be within our scope. That’s true.
However, since we spend a lot of time and a better part of our everyday life there, it would be to our advantage and benefit to keep our surroundings clean. In doing so, we also work in synergy and help the people who work hard to clean for the whole but get paid significantly lesser than us.
An unsanitary surrounding is a health risk and also not aesthetically pleasing.
The surrounding is representative of the company and the employees that work there. There is everything to gain and nothing to lose by being clean. Cleanliness is the best way to prevent infections as dangerous germs and bacteria can take up space virtually anywhere. Nowadays, people wash their hands more than usual which should be a general practice even after the pandemic.
Hand hygiene reduces the number of people that may get sick with diarrhea by 23 to 40%. This would significantly be higher for people with chronic illness and weak immune systems by 58%. Respiratory illnesses can be greatly reduced by 16 to 21% with frequent handwashing with soap.
Even absenteeism among school children due to gastrointestinal sickness is reduced by 29% to 57%. It is similar to absenteeism and time off due to illness by adults of the working age. Apart from that, handwashing with soap aids in the battle against antibiotic-resistant infections. As it prevents the sheer amount of antibiotics that people have to use during infections, it also prevents the likelihood of being resistant to antibiotic drugs.
There are certain breaks in the skin that heals faster when exposed but cleaned. However, this is only applicable if you are staying in one place and not doing any activities that would exacerbate the injury. Any abrasions and cuts would be an invitation for germs in as much as clean intact skin would be a barrier to it.
That said, without any waterproof dressing or bandage the wound could get infected and a bigger problem might ensue. Redness that doesn’t go away, along with fever, swollen lymph nodes along with malaise would be a sign of an infected cut or abrasion. If a dressing for the infection doesn’t heal, it’s time to seek medical assistance.
Sharing items like combs, brushes, towels, toothbrushes, razors, soap, deodorant, and other personal effects could also lead to infection. For example, you can get head lice, scabies, and at worst, staph infections from sharing a hairbrush or comb. Bacteria can live in a towel for hours, days, and even months because of the moisture it gets when used.
That said, bath towels need to be changed at least weekly. You can hang it in an open space preferably in the sun to kill the bacteria. Soap bars can harbor bacteria too, especially when it was not dried out in between uses. Bacteria, fungi, and yeast can accumulate in the moisture then passed to the next person using it to bathe.
Cleaning is always a source of a sense of satisfaction, even if it is hard work.
This physical, repetitive, and almost routine activity can also be good for your mental health and ward off the symptoms of depression. In 2008, there was a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine where they found that cleaning gives a person a sense of accomplishment, along with a reduction of stress and anxiety.
Clutter and messy workspace are not good to look at. Apart from that, it can also be home to mosquitoes, bugs, and germs. Store office supplies and other things in your drawer, storage racks, or containers when not in use. Organize your documents and put them in an envelope or folder and file it away.
Keep your cables neatly tied and stored away from where they may cause fire, electrocution, fall, or any other injury. Wipe your table and sanitize your workspace. It will smell good and you will have the clarity of mind to push on the day ahead in a positive light. Dispose of your garbage properly and don’t store anything on your desk that you would not use within the workday.
Cleanliness is really next to godliness. The costs of hospitalization, pain, and suffering from infections, and financial loss of a missed workday can all be greatly prevented by being clean with ourselves and our surroundings. For a conscientious, hard-working individual you deserve nothing but the best.
The Modish Standing Desk from FlexiSpot is an eco-friendly, premium spacious desk that is easy to clean. It is twice sturdier than ordinary wood and is scratch-proof, moisture-proof, and waterproof. You cannot go wrong with this one as it is designed also to prevent injury, as it is collision-proof. The best thing about it is that it has a cable management system and a child lock system is used for home offices. Have yours today!
