From A.L.

December 20, 2020

ADVICE FOR NEW BAREFOOTERS

Good for you raising your son barefoot. 

As adults, it's harder and takes longer to transition to being confidently barefoot. Our bodies are not in a stage of growth anymore, plus we need to correct any deformations that we have developed.  This means that overall health will have a much bigger effect on your ability to go barefoot compared to your son. 

I've only been going barefoot for a few months, and here are some tips I can give you. 

A) Strengthen your skin. If you're usually home get something that is rough that you can walk in place on, at least 15 minutes a day if you're inside all day, to stimulate the skin on your feet to strengthen. Land on it in different angles so you stimulate a larger area of your feet.

B) Massage your feet a little every day. It doesn't matter how. I've learned that if my feet have gotten too tight, walking will be really painful, even on a relatively easy surface. On something rougher it is nearly impossible. I have a 2kg weight with great corners that I stand partially on that can get really deep, and a balance ball with about 1cm tall nibs all over that are good for an overall surface massage. 

C) Start with ALL kinds of surfaces. I'm lucky (which I didn't realize at first!) because the sidewalks closest to my house are really rough and sharp and everything that sounds like a nightmare to a new barefooter. If you have a place in your backyard or very close to your house with rough gravel, walk on it at least once a week. It will also help strengthen your skin faster. If you can only take one step on the gravel one day, none the next, and 2 the day after, that's wonderful progress. It will fluctuate.

D) Be honest with yourself about where you are. If your feet feel like they will be raw soon, wear shoes. Know your lines. 

E) Watch where you walk! This will become less important as your skin thickens, but a foot injury is not something you want. My main worries are nails, screws, and glass. I have stepped on so much glass already and had 0 issues (no cuts, nicks, splinters or anything) that I pay less attention now to where I step than I did when I first started. That being said, don't drag your feet on the ground. I got a couple of thorns once, but they did almost nothing to me. I stepped in a pile of them and got one halfway in on one foot and didn't notice the one on the second foot until I saw it a week later.

I have also had fears and felt self conscious. I learned that as my feet strengthen, I get less embarrassed. I don't have to constantly stare at the ground, but I made some barefoot sandals last week and have worn them a few times. I see all the types of foot jewelry as ways to acknowledge that it's viewed as normal to wear things on our feet, and that I'm not barefoot against the people I encounter in everyday life, I'm barefoot for myself. The jewelry isn't necessary, but it can be used as an aid or tool. 

In my opinion, the earlier in your barefooting journey that you start going around people, the earlier you will adjust to being barefoot around others and you will feel more comfortable. 

You will encounter people who want to know why you're barefoot, both with mean attitudes and honestly wondering. You don't owe them anything. Be polite and talk as long or as short as you want.  A good catchall answer if you don't want to talk or they look closed minded, "barefoot is more comfortable for me".  

I hope this helps. The more of us there are, the less weird it will be.