Taking Care of Your Feet

When you really think about it, feet have it pretty rough. They have to hold up the rest of your body, they're always on the ground, they get stepped on, and they spend countless hours without air in stuffy socks and shoes. We take time to pamper our hands and the rest of our body but sometimes our feet get overlooked.

After being on your feet all day, try giving them a break. When you come home, take off your shoes. There's no need to keep your feet stuffed inside a pair of hot shoes if you're not going anywhere. For those who wear sneakers often, consider getting some sandals or flip flops during the summer. Your feet need to breathe which is something they can't do very well in closed in shoes. And what's with wearing sandals and socks together? The purpose of sandals is to give our feet some much deserved breathing time and fresh air. Socks will only make your feet sweat and thus defeat the entire purpose for wearing sandals at all.

Maybe your reason for covering your feet with socks instead of letting them air out comfortably in sandals is because you know you need to get a pedicure. Or maybe some of your shoes have rubbed blisters or corns on your feet that leave you embarrassed. First things first, go get yourself a pedicure. Make sure you get your nails trimmed straight across to prevent ingrown toenails and get a nice foot massage. If you want your feet to look nice you have to take care of them. Try buying one of those foot spas that are sold in Wal-Mart, Kmart, or Target. Many of them have a massage setting and vibrating bubbles to help soothe and relax your feet.

One thing some women tend to do is buy their shoes too small. That is one of the worse things you can do to your feet. If you're a size 9, buy a size 9. Don't buy a size 7 and think you can squeeze your feet in them. Even if by chance you manage to stretch the shoe enough to get your feet inside, this isn't healthy for your feet. Your toes will be scrunched up and uncomfortable. Walking may become nearly unbearable and you'll be trying to take your shoes off every moment you get. Our shoes affect our posture so if your shoes aren't fitting properly, your posture won't be as straight as it should be. You might find yourself bending over more to try to keep the weight off of your feet. Buying correct sizes is important. So what if your feet grew a little since your last pair of shoes, it's better to go with the next size up than to torture your feet. And depending on the shoe, that particular style or size may just run big which is why you need a bigger size.

Be careful about the surfaces you walk on, especially in your bare feet. Walking on hard or rough surfaces can lead to callused and sore feet. If you have a concrete patio, it is probably not a good idea to walk on it barefoot or in shoes that don't support your feet. Even when children are playing outside, it's not good to let them play in their bare feet as they could step on glass or some other sharp object or they could scrape their feet on the concrete.

The next time you stand up think of all your feet do for you. They help us walk, run, drive, and even swim. They pretty much carry you everywhere you have to go. If they were to suddenly disappear, getting around would become much more difficult. We need to treat our feet with some tender loving care. Don't hesitate to put your feet up. After all, they sure do deserve it.