5 Things You Should Always Do But Probably Never Do

There are so many important things that are beneficial if done regularly but are most times neglected. Blame it on the rush of catching up with the day to day activities, or simply being oblivious to their importance.

Below are five simple things that you should always do but probably don’t.

Check your shoes before wearing them

Any shoe you own that has some sort of covering over your feet, be it sneakers or heels, should be checked before each wear. This is because harmful insects and even reptiles like snakes (yes snakes!) could be taking a nice nap in them. As scary and unlikely as this seems, it does happen. It is not common practice for people to check the inside of their shoes before wearing them; it doesn’t even occur to most people that they should. This simple task that wouldn’t take two minutes to complete is one that is seldom done by anyone. 

Family Washing Hands | Photo Healthline

Wash your hands before every meal

Researchers have found that the average pair of human hands is more contaminated that benches in busy shopping centres and parks. Shocking isn’t it? Yet this same research shows that only one in eight people always wash their hands before eating. Let’s take a moment to imagine the number of germs the other seven out of eight people “eat” daily. Germs from your hands can get into your food and drinks while you consume them and end up making you sick. This can easily be prevented by simply washing your hands before every meal. 

Drug Expiration | Photo Npr

Check expiry dates on all products

Now, this is not limited to just medication and food products. Cosmetics, beverages and every product that has an expiry date on it are well included. Most people have come to trust so much in stores and believe that they wouldn’t have expired products on their shelves. Let’s not forget that these stores are managed by humans and humans are prone to error. Before you put that product in your shopping basket, before you buy and consume that beverage, check its expiry date. Don’t you think it might be possible you are reacting to that skincare product not because it’s not good for your skin, but because it already passed its expiry date? It’s possible, yes? It is also quite important to regularly check expiry dates of products you already have at home, to ensure you are not still using already expired products.

Go for yearly check-ups at the hospital

This by far is easier said than done. Fear tends to be the main factor stopping most people from doing this: What if they find something wrong? Think about it this way, if they do find something wrong, you can quickly start treatment and that might just stop whatever it is from getting worse. It is not uncommon to hear folks in this part of the world brag that they haven’t been to a hospital in years. You might not be getting sick, but it is still crucial you get yourself examined regularly, as some illnesses show no symptoms for a long time. There have been many stories of people just dropping down dead after suffering from no illness. In most cases, these deaths could have been prevented if a check-up had earlier detected that something was wrong. Regular check-ups can help to increase the chances of treatment if something is indeed wrong in your body. It is just as important as exercising daily and eating right.

Bathing sponge | Photo eBay

Change your bathing sponge regularly

Think about this, how long have you been using your beloved bathing sponge? If you can’t remember, it is definitely time you said goodbye to that sponge. After a long period of use, bathing sponges tend to become a home for bacteria and mould. This is terrible for something that touches your body every day. Using sponges for too long can lead to rashes and infections dues to bacteria build on them. Dermatologists recommend that you change your bathing sponge every eight weeks since it can accumulate bacteria. Imagine using bacteria to wash bacteria. This is what you do when you use the same sponge for months and months.