Whether concerned about safety, style or simply dirty feet, most people want some sort of shoe on when out of the house which is completely understandable. When you come home, however, shoes have limited value so one of the best things you can do for your health is to leave your shoes at the door. Many people and cultures have been doing this for quite some time so this isn't a new concept. Some of you might already be doing this but many others might have grown accustomed to wearing shoes when at home, which presents two problems:
1. If you're wearing shoes that are elevated, tight, restrictive, overly cushioned or have other mechanically altering properties, which is almost all shoes (even tennis shoes and flip flops), wearing them at home just adds to the hours that your feet, knees, hips and back are compromised.
2. Your feet, already starving for stimulus, lose out on hours of freedom and connection which allows them to breathe and maintain their flexibility and strength. Your brain also loses out on the opportunity to keep nerves and bloodflow strong to your toes and feet.
So it's a double whammy. More time compromised and less opportunity to get better.
The simple solution: leave your shoes at the door.
Here's our garage door entrance:
Our health starts from the ground up. The feet are a hotbed of nerves and muscles that give us constant feedback about the world and our body. Nearly everything about the mechanics of your body work better when your feet are flat on the ground and fully connected. Plus, we are much more likely to spend a little time barefoot outdoors (in the backyard or walking to the mailbox) if our shoes are already off.
I like for people to be barefoot as much as possible and get their feet outdoors whenever they can but I understand many people just aren't going to do that, particularly when out and about in the real world. But give your feet a break and let them free when you're home.
Thanks for reading, have a great day!
P.S. Try this Little Experiment at home sometime...