In addition to washing your hands frequently, certain other habits are best avoided for now – from shaking hands and cheek-to-cheek kisses to adjusting your face mask incessantly.

When you have to take off your mask, keep it in your bag, not on a table or any shared surfaces where others can come into contact with it. Sharing face masks with your family members is also a big no-no.  

"Social distancing is crucial right now. Handshakes can be replaced with a nod of the head to acknowledge an acquaintance or placing your right hand on the left side of your chest," says Datin Shawati. 

Many employees today still have the option to work from home. Whether you're working from the comfort of your living room or communicating with someone who is working from home, keep these in mind for the sake of professionalism.

"Regardless of the time given, always be dressed presentably and appropriately for a Zoom meeting – that shows respect for yourself and what you do as well as respect for your audience," says Datin Shawati. "Make sure your background looks neat and tidy. Try to be at least 10 minutes early for every Zoom meeting to prepare your working tools and check your audio quality."  

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The reality of modern work life is such that many of us are used to receiving work texts and emails even outside office hours. Is it still rude to WhatsApp your colleagues after hours? Are you crossing a line by sending emails out at 1am?

Datin Shawati's opinion on this is clear: "Unless agreed upon by all parties involved, restrict business calls, meetings and text messages, or WhatsApps within office hours so as to respect the other person's privacy."

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No matter how tempting it is to flout social distancing measures in the office, think twice before doing this—or before removing your face mask when in the company of friends, cautions Datin Shawati. 

"Wear your mask. If you're sick, let your superiors know and don't go into the office," she says. "Respect each other's personal spaces, and do not touch your co-workers' belongings. Even if you have to wash your hands 100 times a day, do it."  

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Whether it's dining with friends or family, sharing cutlery, napkins, glasses or chopsticks should be avoided.

"If you need to take a portion from a shared serving plate, use the cutlery from the serving plate and not your own cutlery – it isn't hygienic or ethical to put something that you've placed in your mouth onto a serving plate shared by others."

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"We all tend to take things like walking in the park, going to the grocery store or being able to have coffee with friends for granted," muses Datin Shawati. "The last few months have taught me to be more grateful than ever of this life. It might not be as easy as before, but some adaptation is necessary to fit the new norm of living and the changes in habits."