Staying comfortable while wearing a mask

My best tips

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned, I wear a mask anytime I am indoors and in public. I’ve been doing that for over two years. I’m

Not going to pretend it’s just as comfortable as no mask, but it’s a level of discomfort you get used to. It’s no worse for me than wearing sunglasses, and weirdly it’s better than wearing a hat. I genuinely can’t stand wearing hats.

Here’s what I have figured out:

1. Different brands of N95 and KN 95 masks have subtle differences in fit. Some brands will genuinely be more comfortable than other brands. It was worth it to me to try different brands until I found the one I liked best. The ones that I liked best were not the ones that my husband liked best or my mom or my teenager - everybody had slightly different preferences.

2. Carry extra masks with you. It’s not just useful because the mask that you have on might break or get dirty! If you’ve been wearing the same mask all day, and you start to feel particularly uncomfortable, switching the mask you have on for a fresh one or a different one can help with the discomfort. As you wear them, over time, masks mold to your face and they change shape. Switching to one that has a different amount of wear - or is brand new - will let it sit differently on your face and give you a break.

3. Schedule outdoor time into your day if you can, so you can spend a little time with your mask off.

4. Carry breath freshening gum or a toothbrush and toothpaste with you. There’s nothing worse than being trapped in your mask with your garlic breath.

5. If your ears get sore from the loops on them, get an ear saver device which will let the mask fasten around the back of your neck instead of hooking over your ears. I actually use one almost all the time because I have pitiful delicate ears that get sore easily.

6. Finally remember that exposure to COVID isn’t binary. You are trying to minimize the frequency and quantity of your exposures to the virus. You probably cannot reduce exposure to zero. What you can do is reduce exposure to a level where the virus doesn’t infect you. Or at least reduce it to a level where you have a less serious case of COVID. So any amount of mask wearing that you can do is better than never wearing one. So if the only way you can bring yourself to wear a mask is to periodically take breaks and take it off, that’s still more effective than not wearing a mask. It’s still a better choice.

If you have mask wearing advice I haven’t mentioned, please share it in the comments!