In a matter of days, we went from seeing no one wearing a mask and gloves in public to just about everyone wearing a mask and gloves in public. The goal of wearing personal protective equipment, is to prevent transmitting or acquiring COVID-19.
However, when this equipment isn’t used properly it can be more dangerous than not wearing any at all.
If you’ve been told to use gloves by an employer or you feel they are best for your personal protection, it’s very important to take the proper safety precautions.
Jacquelyn Gill, a paleoecologist and Associate Professor of climate science at the University of Maine, is used to wearing gloves when she does field work. As an ICE Age ecologist, she has to be careful not to contaminate ancient specimens she comes across in the frozen tundra.
So to inform the public on the safe way to wear gloves, she took to Twitter.
If all of her wisdom is news to you, don’t feel bad, most people aren’t professionally trained to wear gloves.
Based on what I’m seeing in my weekly grocery trip, people need a primer on how to use disposable gloves properly. As a scientist who wears gloves to protect me from lethal chemicals (abd to avoid contaminating ice age specimens), let me share some tips: — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
One of the most important things to remember: the point of gloves is not to not prevent you from “absorbing” the virus through your skin. If your skin is hydrated and you don’t have open wounds, your body’s natural defenses will prevent transmission through your skin. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
(With all the handwashing, your hands may be cracked and dry: keep them hydrated with heavy duty hand creams!) — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
The big benefit to wearing gloves is that they’re disposable.
So why wear gloves? They’re disposable! If you touch a surface lots of other people touched, like a pin pad at a checkout counter or a door handle, you can throw them away and avoid transmitting any germs (like coronavirus) to your phone, face, car door, debit card, keys, etc. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
Gloves will not prevent you from transferring germs from a contaminated surface to an I contaminated one! They aren’t anti-microbial. If you touch a doorknob with gloves on, then touch your face WITH THOSE SAME GLOVES, you’ve transmitted germs from the doorknob to your face. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
You can easily transmit the virus while wearing gloves.
Things I saw people doing while wearing gloves:
– opening a soda bottle and taking a drink
– touching their glasses
– adjusting their masks
– touching their car keys, debit card
– using their phone
*All while shopping in a store and handling groceries, their carts, etc.* — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
Even though you’re wearing gloves, you still have to wash your hands.
The only way gloves are effective is if you change them as often as you should wash or sanitize* your hands.
Read that out loud. Again. Make it stick.
*Good hand-washing with soap is more effective than sanitizer, but it’s not always something we can do outside the house. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
If you have gloves on, and you’ve touched something, treat your hands as if they were contaminated. Period. Treat the gloves as an extra layer of skin that you can shed BEFORE you touch your face, your car door, or any surface you don’t want to contaminate. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
“But doesn’t that mean you have to change your gloves a lot?”
Yep!
It also means you can get by without them if you’re washing your hands and paying attention to what you touch. Or save them for things like the gas pump or other single uses where you can’t wash your hands. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
You should not re-use gloves.
Gloves start to lose effectiveness with use, and not all gloves are the same (there are many kinds!) so look up how long you can safely wear yours.
Many research-grade gloves are designed to tear if they have a defect, so if you put them on and they rip, that’s good! It means there was a tiny hole or a weak spot. Just get another one. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
Be careful if you’re thinking about sanitizing your gloves. You may be reducing their effectiveness, depending on the chemicals used. There are lots of charts online that tell you what your specific type of gloves will be effective against. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
And finally, please safely dispose of your used gloves in the trash. Bag them up in your car if you can’t find an outdoor garbage can. Don’t throw them on the ground for someone else to pick up, or where they could potentially harm wildlife. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
Don’t wash and re-use your gloves.
A lot of folks are asking about washing and re-using disposable gloves:
Think of them like condoms, folks. Single-use and disposable. That’s what they were designed for. They start to wear out and and fail rates increase within 15-30 minutes. That’s why hospitals need so many. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
This seems obvious, but …
I can’t believe I need to add this, but: don’t remove your gloves with your teeth. Ever. Under any circumstances. Even if we aren’t in a pandemic. Even if you just chopped up some jalapeños. If you didn’t want it on your hands, you don’t want in your mouth. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
PS It’s okay if you didn’t know some or all of this. Disposable gloves are something most of us don’t use on a daily basis. We’re all having to learn new things to get through this. Take care of one another, stay strong, stay healthy. — Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) April 5, 2020
Gill’s tweet thread discusses the importance of removing gloves safely to prevent the spread of disease. Here’s the Centers for Disease Controls tips on how to do so properly.
A seven-step guide from the CDC outlines how to properly remove gloves to avoid unintentional germ transmission.
– Grasp the outside of one glove at the wrist. Do not touch your bare skin.
– Peel the glove away from your body, pulling it inside out.
– Hold the glove you just removed in your gloved hand.
– Peel off the second glove by putting your fingers inside the glove at the bottom of your wrist.
– Turn the second glove inside out while pulling it away from your body, leaving the first glove inside the second.
– Dispose of the gloves safely. Do not reuse the gloves.
– Clean your hand immediately after removing gloves.
Licensed therapist Jeffrey Meltzer offers three steps for dealing with rude people. In his helpful TikTok post under the name therapytothepoint, he suggests helpful tactics that go far beyond setting simple boundaries.
Rude people are almost impossible to avoid, and the instinct to snap back or make a passive-aggressive remark can be strong. Meltzer shares some practical mental health advice that can lead to a calmer resolution.
Some individuals might believe that other people are responsible for how they make us feel. Meltzer suggests that self-regulation is an important first step to dealing with disrespectful people. Despite instincts to retaliate or escalate the situation, staying calm is more effective.
Meltzer proposes that reciprocating aggression will only embolden a rude person and even justify their poor behavior. Instead, calmness and controlling our emotions will disrupt the pattern. Meltzer explains, “You might feel angry, embarrassed, disrespected, but calmness is about your behavior, despite the internal chaos you may be having. At the end of the day, emotional regulation is your strength, and reactivity gives your power away.”
A 2024 study in the National Library of Medicine found that people’s ability to reappraise a stressful event in a more balanced way was strongly linked to greater resilience and better recovery from stress. The strategy helps people stay calmer by changing how the brain interprets the event.
A woman is rudely interrupted on the phone. Photo credit Canva
Passive Aggression Is NOT a Solution
An easy response might be the simple eye roll, sarcasm, or a retaliatory personal dig. Meltzer points out that these are only ego attempts to win an unwinnable situation. “Instead, be straightforward. I’m open to talking about this, but not like that. It’s hard for me to connect when you speak to me that way.” Meltzer explains that these tactics bring clarity and remove the defensive guard of said rude individuals.
A 2026 study in Psychology Today reported that passive-aggressive behaviors worsen relationship dynamics and fail to resolve disagreements. Criticism, ostracism (ignoring others), and sabotage all undermine cooperation and relational success.
A man blows a dandelion in a woman’s face. Photo credit Canva
Role play works
Practice makes perfect has value in dealing with rude people. “You don’t magically become composed under pressure; you train for it.” Meltzer continues, “Practice with a friend. Practice with your therapist. Have them be rude. Respond calmly. Respond assertively. Respond clearly. Because in real life, you don’t rise to the moment, you fall to your level of preparation.”
A 2024 study in the National Library of Medicine revealed that an individual’s level of assertiveness can be trained. The strategy of preparation reduced feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
The solutions offered by Meltzer seem to resonate. Several people reveal their own struggles when facing similar predicaments. These are some of their comments:
“Practice with a therapist? Why didn’t I think of that”
“You don’t rise to the moment you fall to the level of your preparation. I’m gonna memorize that.”
“I’m waiting for you to write a book about all your amazing insights”
“I can handle them but i internalize later n let it ruin my day”
“The real skill is knowing when to ignore and when to address it. Not everything deserves your energy.”
“Rudeness is a weak man’s imitation of strength. Just say that to them and if they continue, walk away with a smile.”
Meltzer advises that the best way to handle rudeness begins with how we respond. Diffusing a situation helps maintain peace of mind. Remaining composed helps control our own reactions. In the end, rehearsing for success allows us to stay confident when difficult situations arise.
In a recent TED Talk, love coach Francesca Hogi shared how even your awkward flirting can be a superpower. Sometimes mistaken as off-putting, flirting actually offers a powerful gateway to real human connection.
By reframing flirting as an act of curiosity, she explains how anyone can kickstart attraction and open the door to lasting love. In an impassioned presentation, Hogi demystifies flirting and explains why building attraction matters.
Flirting can be a superpower
Hogi explains that for 12 years she’s been helping people fall in love as both a matchmaker and a coach. “As a love professional, I can assure you that many dating problems can be solved with flirting,” Hogi says. “If you’re single, it helps you to connect and fall in love. If you’re partnered, it helps you to reignite or maintain the spark of chemistry that brought you together in the first place.”
Many might have concerns about their ability to flirt. Will they be received well, or are they even doing it right? Hogi explains, “I’ve got good news for the introverts out there. You don’t have to be extroverted to be a magnet for connection. In fact, I believe that introverts have a secret advantage when it comes to flirting because your efforts at being more open feel more genuinely inspired by another person and therefore special.”
She shares that flirting can give you confidence and courage. She also acknowledges that feeling awkward is normal. “Confidence with flirting comes from knowing yourself, your intentions, reading the room, discerning other people’s reactions, and adapting accordingly,” she says. “Sometimes it’s going to be awkward, sometimes it’s going to be embarrassing, and that’s okay.”
“Flirting gives you more agency over human connection,” says Hogi.
She then describes the two foundational principles of healthy flirting. The first is presence: being in the moment and avoiding distractions like a phone or the surrounding environment. The second is enthusiasm. Getting the right vibe while being enthusiastic goes a long way toward mastering the art of flirting. These principles have a strong effect on other people.
Hogi explains that expressing positive intentions has a large impact on outcomes:
“You have the ability to leave other people feeling good for having interacted with you…Even your unspoken appreciation for a shared moment of connection, no matter how brief, can often be felt. Lean into being the version of you who leaves other people with a smile on their face and notice how much more magnetic you become.”
People seem quite taken with Hogi’s energy and charisma. Some of the comments expressed admiration for her vibe and flirtatious delivery on stage. Hogi was sharing her own version of flirting as a superpower:
“Even this presentation feels like shes flirting…especially her laughs”
“She is such a good public speaker, ten minutes of speech with no filler words whatsoever”
“Flirting is a way making one feel seen and acknowledged.”
“Where were you, Francesca, when I needed these words? Like, 40 years ago? Never too late, right?”
“Had me clapping in the end! She’z good”
“I feel better about my flirting abilities after watching this now.”
“She’s good , reading her body language generally teaches me more about flirting than learning it itself”
A vintage photo of a couple flirting. Photo credit: Canva
The power behind a flirtatious connection
Flirting can have a powerful effect on both the initiator and the person on the receiving end. It isn’t necessarily about romance or sex. It helps build and strengthen relationships in everyday life.
A 2025 study on ResearchGate analyzed where and how people flirt. The results suggested that people who flirt can improve with practice. The best flirting involved humor, confidence, and social skills. A 2026 study on ScienceDirect found that flirting can be an effective way for people to express their personality and individual differences. While personality traits and sex were linked to how often and how skillfully people flirted, these influences had only modest effects on overall outcomes.
Hogi suggests flirting requires nuance and a little bit of courage. Practice prepares you for any occasion. “Attentiveness, compliments, playfulness—there’s nothing complicated about these actions, yet they have the potential to spark and sustain connection over time,” she says. “That’s a true superpower we can all tap into.”
Hogi and the research suggest flirting isn’t just a trivial social game. It’s a meaningful way to express personality, build connections, and boost self-confidence. Flirting isn’t shallow. It doesn’t need to involve manipulation or outcome-obsessed action. These small everyday acts of courage embolden human connection and reveal individual superpowers in all of us.
During an interview on The Diary of a CEO podcast, retired U.S. Navy chief Chase Hughes explained how to end discipline anxiety. Using a simple perspective shift, often referred to as the “butler” trick, he describes a method of “prioritizing the needs of our future self.”
Hughes shares that understanding discipline is one of the fastest ways to change everything in our lives. We might wish discipline would arrive like a lightning bolt of motivation. However, Hughes suggests the solution lies in our relationship with discipline and the perspective we take on it, which ultimately relieves our anxiety.
End discipline anxiety
Hughes begins by explaining the importance of understanding what discipline actually is: “I define discipline as your ability to prioritize the needs of your future self ahead of your present self.” He goes on to explain that a simple reframing can change the link between discipline and anxiety.
“If I can start looking backwards with gratitude, [it] is the fastest way to make discipline dopamine-generating,” Hughes says. “I want past-tense me to be a source of dopamine for present-tense me. Cause most of us look back with regret. ‘I shouldn’t have drank that much. I shouldn’t have mouthed off at the family reunion. You know whatever it is, I shouldn’t have overslept.’”
A butler ready to be of service. Photo credit: Canva
The butler trick for discipline
Instead, it’s possible to prioritize long-term endeavors over short-term desires. In the full YouTube video of the interview, Hughes describes the butler trick as a way of treating your future self as someone you can serve today, just like a butler. The concept of looking forward with concerned awareness and backward with gratitude can help release the connection between anxiety and discipline. This reframing and release of negativity help people better motivate themselves and manage their present circumstances.
A 2025 study in SAGE Journals found that future self-orientation directly impacts discipline-related outcomes. This trick can lead to meaningful behavior change. By reframing our relationship with the past, we directly affect our relationship with discipline and procrastination. A 2023 study published by Springer Nature found that procrastination and self-control significantly influence attitudes toward time. How someone relates to time ultimately shapes whether discipline feels easy or overwhelming.
Viewers seemed universally impressed by the solution Hughes offers in the butler trick for discipline. Here are some of their thoughts:
“I love it when Past Me has done something great to support Future Me. Sometimes it’s all I got, but it’s enough.”
“This is the best advice on discipline I’ve ever heard in my life”
“He’s giving you the blueprint for ultimate self care”
“Be methodically organized and make your life less complicated and more suitable to your needs.”
“I’ve heard everything can be looked at as a learning opportunity. Selfless gratitude + learning seems like a strong combo.”
“Be my own butler. Love this!”
Self-discipline is defined as controlling one’s own desires. Photo credit: Canva
Discipline changes everything
Hughes underscores the value discipline has in changing our lives:
“Discipline is kind of the gateway drug to everything else in authority, and it’s the gateway to composure. But getting your discipline modified is one of the fastest ways to make everything else change.”
Discipline can mistakenly be associated with punishment and rigid routine management. With Hughes’ framing, it might be better described as stewardship. Instead of battling the present, you can serve the future. The butler trick can help us all be more thoughtful toward the person we are becoming.
You can watch the full interview with Chase Hughes on The Diary of a CEO podcast below:
