A few months into quarantine, after the banana bread craze and surge in daily snacking (what else was there to do at home all day?), many of us joked about the COVID-15. But was it really a joke? I personally have hardly seen my legs aside from my shower routine, and sweatpants seem like the only piece of acceptable clothing in my wardrobe these days. So it’s no wonder that the results of a new survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Massage Envy revealed that the majority of people have developed a somewhat unhealthy and unhappy relationship with their bodies as a result of the pandemic. Here’s the scoop.
The survey, which was given to 2,000 Americans, determined that the pandemic has negatively impacted how the majority of respondents (51 percent) feel about their bodies. More specifically, 40 percent said that they’ve passed a mirror and not recognized their reflection at least once since the pandemic began. Wow! And nearly half (49 percent) said they don’t have the same level of confidence that they did prior to COVID-19.
The study didn’t just focus on aesthetic concerns either: 47 percent of participants said their bodies have been aching in brand new and different ways since March of 2020. I know I can relate to this one big-time. If you’re like me, you’ve never been a regular work-from-homer and you find the couch to be more comfortable than the desk chair, but man does it take a toll on your body. The poll also disclosed that 58 percent of people think their daily routine since the start of the pandemic is inflicting major wear and tear on their bodies: 44 percent of people want to improve the back pain they’re experiencing and a close 43 percent plan to improve their posture. I’m in this group for sure!
“This pandemic has taken a mental and physical toll on so many of us,” said Beth Stiller, CEO of Massage Envy. “With so many people spending most of their time at home juggling home schooling with working from home at their kitchen table or living room floor, it’s important that we’re taking care of our bodies. Incorporating self-care rituals like therapeutic massage or regular skin care into our routines is key to boosting self-confidence and keeping your body working. You’ve only got one body, right? So, you need to take the best care of it that you can and committing to taking care of your body on a regular basis is so important.”
