The pandemic forced us to create habits that benefit the Earth and ourselves. Here’s which behaviors to keep We’ve had to adapt to a rapidly changing world over the last year but some of our newly acquired habits are worth retaining when the pandemic ends. Some of our behaviors have benefited the environment, like buying locally, reducing our commutes and flying less. Other habits have reduced our odds of catching other illnesses. But retaining those habits is easier said than done. The likelihood of internalizing a habit largely depends on how unique it is compared to other habits we have, said Art Markman, professor in the department of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.