Public health regulations mandate that you comply with your town or state’s regulations and cover your face while in public. You may feel that a mask makes it hard to breathe and limits your ability to interact socially. You may even feel that face masks represent government overreach into your personal health decisions. If you’re a healthcare worker, this face mask fatigue may not be relevant to your life but to everyone else’s. Now look at the complete list of five hidden benefits of face mask that may outweigh all the rest:
- Others can’t as clearly read your emotions. Without every muscle in your face visible to the outside world, you’re free to use the obscured lower half to make any kind of expression you’d like. You can enjoy without restraint some of your darker emotional reactions to people. You can even talk quietly to yourself without anyone knowing. Of course, you have to keep that poker face in the upper third of facial muscles, especially the eyes. But the rest of your muscles can do whatever they want underneath the fabric.
- You can’t read other people’s emotions either. It’s true that reading emotions is part and parcel of interpersonal communication. But if you are overly sensitive to being criticized by others, a face mask will take out this potential source of anxiety. Free from worry about how they’re reacting to you. It’s possible you’ll be able to relax and, in the process, actually be more effective in your relationships.
- You can spend less money and time on make up. Men are growing “coronavirus beards,” and women have no need to buy lipstick or even any face makeup. If you have a skin breakout, no one will see it. And only you will be bothered by bad breath. Face mask may even help you save your time as you prepare for your day.
- A face mask can be used to make a fashion statement. The standard protective masks are, of course, a standard white or blue. However, if you’re not healthcare worker, you just need to cover up while out in public. Then, there’s no end to the possibilities for exotic prints, bright colors, and various glamorous add-ons. If you’ve mastered the art of constructing your own, you don’t have to worry about using a practical material. Because you can make new ones rather than having to wash them so frequently.
- A face mask can make a public statement. You’ve undoubtedly observed people marching in the streets with masks that match their cause. A mask is more visible even than a t-shirt for that purpose, and it is infinitely malleable to the occasion.
At another level, though, wearing a face mask shows that you have the good of others in mind. Even if you’re not concerned about contracting the virus yourself, the wearing of a face mask shows that you’re concerned about the health of the people important to you in your life.
To sum up, face mask fatigue is just one of the many forms of fatigue people feel with COVID-19’s continuing effects on daily life. Seeing the humor, and possible benefits, can help you overcome fatigue and build resilience.
