The New Normal
by Jennifer Ashton M.D.
Publishing date Feb, 9 2021

What a year it has been!! I found myself surrounded by different levels of comfort levels in the people I knew.
This book provides a great plan to face the challenges of:
- Taking proper medical precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones

- Exercising during the pandemic, even if you no longer feel safe at the gym

- Finding emotional balance through these uncertain times

- Deciphering complicated medical news to learn what to trust and what to ignore.
Great book!~ Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a digital ARC. 3star

The New Normal: A Roadmap to Resilience in the Pandemic Era is the latest book by ABC chief medical correspondent Jennifer Ashton, MD, MS. This timely and relevant book was published earlier this month (William Morrow, February 2021).

Authoritative but easy-to-read, the book covers many aspects of our changed lives post-pandemic—including sleep, fitness, diet, self-care, parenting, and physical and emotional well-being.

More importantly, it provides practical suggestions to help individuals adapt to the personal and societal changes wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a much-needed dose of positivity and inspiration at a time when so many are suffering losses.

In addition to Dr. Ashton’s extensive experience communicating clear, up-to-date information on-air and in prior books, her work is grounded by her experience as a clinician with an active private practice. Her advice in The New Normal is evidence-based, informed, direct and unequivocal—but never judgmental.

The new normal as it pertains to travel

When intrepid travelers hit the road again, they will have to grudgingly accept a “new normal.” For sure, we won’t be traveling the same way we once did, which now, in retrospect, seems like it was pretty carefree. I remember when one of my greatest worries was that of catching a common cold on a plane.

Many uncertainties about the coronavirus still remain, especially as new variants pose new unknowns. But it won’t be long before even the most COVID-cautious among us (me included)will be traveling again, maybe as early as this summer. The vaccination rollout, and enhanced health and safety measures implemented by industry have boasted traveler confidence. 

But for the foreseeable future, we’ll be wearing masks, maintaining social distance, washing our hands until our knuckles are raw, and taking many other health and safety precautions before and during travel. 

Some travel advice from Dr. Jennifer Ashton

While the book is far broader in scope than travel alone, some of the information and advice it contains might help guide your future travel decisions.

Here are some takeaways gleaned from the book:

-About air travel

Air travel is one of the safest means of public transportation, safer than trains or buses, due to the air filtration systems used on planes. Also, most airlines have mandatory mask policies for crew and passengers.

Airline passengers have a 1 in 4,300 chance of contracting COVID-19, and 1 in 400,000 risk of death from the virus if everyone is masked, with the odds of both reduced even further if middle seats are blocked. (NB: Delta is currently the only U.S. airline adhering to that policy.)

Other advice: Book a window seat, check in online to minimize contact, and wipe down the area around your seat upon boarding.

Face masks are a must; consider eye protection, too.

At the airport (or other transportation hubs), it is prudent to keep moving to avoid staying next to the same person for an extended period of time.

-About road trips

Automobile travel, with people in your pod, is probably the least risky way to travel.
If anyone in your party needs to stop along the way (for a beverage or restroom), be sure they wash their hands thoroughly before getting back in the vehicle.

-About hotels

Hotels are relatively safe because you’re generally there yourself or with one other person and properties are taking extra precautions to protect your health.

Upon check-in, it’s a good idea to open the windows in your room so fresh air circulates.

Keep your mask on for the first few hours of your stay to prevent inhaling respiratory droplets from past guests or housekeeping staff.

Whenever possible, opt for contactless check-ins and avoid buffets. 

-About dining out

Because people take off their masks when eating so it can be risky to dine inside a restaurant, even when sitting six feet apart, if its for an extended period of time.

Eating outdoors, when possible, is generally safer than eating in an enclosed space.

There is no evidence of contracting the virus from food, per se.

-The road ahead

Whether or not it is safe to travel now, or even months rom now, is a complex question. It depends on a number of factors including your own health status, the type of trip you are taking, the rate of infection at your destination, and your own personal behaviors. 

“Remember that COVID-19 will be with us for years to come,” writes Dr. Ashton. “Learning to live safely with the virus—-and any other pathogens that might come our way—while continuing to enjoy your life will allow you to stay happy and healthy in our new normal.”

She suggests that travel, like other aspects of the “new normal” will entail evaluating the risk/reward ratio of the decisions we make.

“Instead of refusing to travel or eat out, we can learn how to assess our own risks and make safe decisions for ourselves and everyone around us,” she says. Dr. Ashton's book will answer many questions you may have about your life going forward.

I may be a bit biased in reviewing this book, as I am a huge fan of Dr. Ashton. I feel that this book perfectly summarizes the advice she has been giving since the pandemic began. She has always stressed an importance of self-care, even prior to the pandemic. This book gives the reader advice on how to do things like workout when being afraid to go to the gym, how to go to stores when feeling afraid and so many other situations that we are ALL finding ourselves in. Dr. Ashton doesn't sugarcoat and say that things are going to be easy or better quickly, she focuses on giving advice on what we can do NOW to protect ourselves and live our best lives . I appreciate her honest and straightforward approach to guiding us through this pandemic.