Safe & Healthy Tips for Shopping, Eating Out, Traveling & More  

Two years into the pandemic, everyday tasks can seem stressful in terms of knowing how to stay safe. Thankfully, you don’t have to let that stop you from enjoying activities like shopping, eating out, traveling, and more. There are plenty of ways to keep you and your loved ones healthy, from masks and hand sanitizer to social distancing and disinfectants. Check out the following hygiene and safety tips to learn how you can have better peace of mind this year. 

How to Fly Safely During a Pandemic 

We’re all itching to travel more these days. And with the proper precautions, you can feed your wanderlust and stay safe and healthy while traveling on an airplane. Keep these tips in mind next time you whip out your suitcase. 

• Know your risk.  
• Make sure you check the health regulations and status of your destination. Identify if you will need any testing upon arrival or departure and be sure to follow all guidelines and rules of the place you are going. Right now, the CDC recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Even if you’re not worried about the coronavirus, it’s also important to protect yourself from traditional illnesses like the common cold and the flu. 
• Use a mask lanyard.  
• Wearing a facial covering is currently required on airplanes and in airports. Since you’ll be wearing them for a longer period than you may be used to, consider bringing a mask lanyard to keep your mask secure and readily available. 
• Bring a travel-sized bottle hand sanitizer.  
• When water and soap aren’t available, the CDC recommends hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content. However, you can also opt for an alcohol-free option like Just Human Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer. It provides up to 24-hours of protection with just one daily application. Simply throw a travel-sized bottle (three ounces or less) in your carry-on and go! 
• Travel with disinfectant wipes.
• While most airlines claim to sanitize the plane between flights, it’s always helpful to do some extra cleaning yourself. Use sanitation wipes to wipe down your tray-table, armrests, and other parts of your seat that are touched often. 

Tips for Eating Out During Covid 

Many people’s attitudes toward eating out have changed in the past two years. What used to be a fun night out now comes with extra levels of anxiety. Follow these tips to stay healthy while dining out. 

• Mix up the location. 
• The CDC says that getting food to go is the best way to protect yourself from illness, followed by outdoor or open-air dining. Mix things up by eating your take-out at a local park or on the patio. It will give you the change of scenery you’re craving. 
• Sit outside or near a window.  
• If you do choose to eat indoors, ask to sit outside or near an open window. This will give you access to fresher, circulated air.  
• Avoid peak business times.  
• Social distancing isn’t possible in all restaurants. Instead, plan to eat during slower business times right before the rush to avoid being in a room full of people.  

Covid-Safe Road Trip Ideas 

It’s time to hit the road! Many people opt for a classic family road trip instead of flying. Not only does this option make it easier to take health precautions, but it’s also more environmentally friendly, too. Stay safe with these road-friendly tips: 

• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• You’ll be driving through several cities and even states. Make sure you follow each one’s safety standards and requirements, especially regarding masks and social distancing. 

• Take a map. 
• Yes. We’re talking about physical maps here. You may find yourself with a dead cell phone in the middle of nowhere or on a patch of road with a weak phone signal. Print out your route or buy a map to keep you on the right track. 
• Book ahead of time. 
• Since more and more people are going on road trips these days, many state parks and roadside amenities may be booked when you arrive. Reserve your spot ahead of time to avoid disappointment – or sleeping in your car. 
• Be prepared for illness. 
• If you plan on being away for more than a week, make sure you’re ready if you (or your travel partners) begin to feel sick. Download your health insurance provider’s mobile app for easy access to important documents. 

Hygiene Tips for Trains & Buses 

Trains and buses are both great travel options, whether you’re going on a trip or just into the office. Since these methods involve being around a lot of strangers, it’s important to consider the following tips for staying as safe and healthy as possible. 

• Sit alone. 
• If you’re traveling alone, try to sit by yourself when possible. This can help prevent contact with people whose health status is unknown – and keep you from having to maintain awkward chit chat. 
• Use digital tickets and passes. 
• Many train and bus services now have mobile apps to access your trip fare. Using a digital pass can help prevent germ transfer between physical tickets – just make sure to keep your phone clean, too. 
• Keep the windows open. 
• When possible, try to sit near an open or cracked window. This will help circulate the air and give you access to some fresher breathing space. 
• Sanitize hands and surfaces. 
• Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer on hand and use it often – or just once a day with Just Human 24-Hour Hand Sanitizer. You can also use disinfectant wipes to clean seats and handgrips.  

How to Stay Safe in Hotels During the Pandemic 

How we’ve missed hotels! Staying in a hotel can feel luxurious after months at home. The good news is that you can enjoy your stay to the fullest while keeping safety top of mind. 

• Do your research. 
• Call ahead and make sure your hotel is equipped with the proper sanitization supplies and has a structured cleaning process in place. Ask about capacity levels and what the area’s safety protocols are. 
• Ask for a room that wasn’t recently occupied. 
• Most hotels have adopted very stringent cleaning processes that involve sanitizing rooms between stays. To be extra safe you can call ahead of your arrival and ask if you can stay in a room that wasn’t recently occupied. That way the room has had several days to air out.  
• Coordinate with housekeeping. 
• To reduce your interaction with others, consider opting out of daily housekeeping by hotel staff. But, if fresh towels and sheets are something you look forward to while away, you can always coordinate to have the room refreshed while you are away to limit exposure. 
• Pack your own cleaning supplies. 
• As always, it’s a great idea to bring along your trusty wipes and hand sanitizer. Pack a bottle in your suitcase and have a travel-sized one in your purse or backpack for moments that require easy access. 

How to Stay Safe while Grocery Shopping 

One result of the ever-changing landscape of 2020 was the opportunity to cook more at home. And while this is a great way to incorporate new, healthy habits, it also means more trips to the grocery store. Thankfully, it is safe to go to the grocery store, especially when keep the following in mind. 

• Wash your hands before arriving. 
• This should be your first step any time you leave your house as it helps protect you and others from the spread of germs. 
• Wipe down your cart or basket before shopping. 
• Some grocery stores have wipes available. However, consider keeping a pack of your own sanitizing wipes in your bag to always be prepared. 
• Choose with your eyes, not your hands. 
• Resist the urge to feel produce before selecting the ones you want. Try to only touch the items you plan on purchasing. (Avocados—we're looking at you!) 
• Skip the reusable bags. 
• While it’s environmentally friendly to bring your own bags, they’re harder to sanitize. And after touching the conveyor belt, the clerk and your buggy—it's easier to simply recycle the plastic or paper bags afterward.  
• Spray your kitchen counter after unpacking. 
• We don’t recommend sanitizing your groceries, however, using an antimicrobial spray is a great way to clean any surfaces once all your food is put away. 

Is it Safe to Get a Haircut During Covid? 

There aren’t many places as intimate as hair salons. You’re in close proximity with your stylist for an extended period—not just for the haircut, but for the shampooing and styling, as well. And while some may opt to use this season to grow out their locks, know that you can stay safe while getting a haircut at a salon. 

• Call ahead. 
• Verify that your salon is following CDC guidelines: wearing a mask, maintaining safe distances, and cleaning in between clients. 
• Sanitize before arrival. 
• Wash your hands before heading out and keep a travel-sized hand sanitizer to use once you arrive.  
• Wear a mask. 
• This is the best way to protect you (and your stylist) from transferring viral germs.  
• Sit back, relax and don’t touch anything. 
• While you may have previously used the salon as a place to linger and unwind, we don’t recommend staying past your appointment window. Enjoy your time in the chair while you’re there, but try to avoid touching surfaces, styling tools or products.  

Gym Safety & Etiquette 

You might be wondering if gyms are safe during the COVID-19 era. The CDC has created a strict list of guidelines for gym and fitness owners to abide by which offers gym-goers a little extra peace of mind. But here’s a few things you can do to help protect yourself even further:  

• Work out alone. 
• While group fitness classes are a fun way to socialize, save that for outdoor activities like walking or yoga at the park.  
• Avoid peak times. 
• It’s definitely easier to hit the gym on the way to or from work, but that’s exactly when everyone is trying to squeeze in a workout. Adjust your schedule to fit in a lunch hour sweat session or a post-dinner workout to avoid being in the gym with a huge group of people.  
• Clean your equipment after use. 
• It was polite to wipe down any equipment pre-COVID, but now it’s an absolute necessity. Most gyms have hand-sanitizing stations or wipes available; however, it’s nice to bring some of your own in the event your gym runs out.  
• Wash your hands.  
• Once you're done, wash your hands (or use hand sanitizer!) to clean off any germs and bacteria you may have picked up while working out.