The new year is almost upon us, and while you may be one of the many people with weight loss goals on their mind, you should also consider taking a closer look at your foot health in 2018. In today’s blog, we take a look at five ways you can care for and pamper your feet in the new year.
New Years Foot Goals
If you want your feet to be happy and healthy this year, keep these five tips in mind.
1. Exercise – Exercise puts stress on your feet, but it also strengthens muscles and helps to improve your balance. Don’t overdo it or you may increase your risk for injury, but moderate-intensity exercise 3-5 times a week can do wonders for your overall foot health.
2. Extracurricular Activities – Aside from concentrated exercise, also consider picking up a foot-related hobby or adding a foot health-related goal to your calendar this year. Join a yoga class or commit to running a half marathon. Yoga helps to improve your balance, which can prevent falls, and running a marathon can strengthen your feet while helping you cross new things off your bucket list.
3. Shoe Choice – Protect your feet in 2018 by only buying shoes that are comfortable, supportive and the correct size. Don’t squeeze your feet into a closed toe option or force your feet to stand in heels for hours on end. Wearing the right sized shoes that support your arch can help prevent against a number of foot conditions, like bunions, corns, plantar fasciitis and ingrown toenails.
4. Pamper Them – Every so often, treat your feet to some rest and relaxation. Go get a foot massage, or soak them in warm water and give them a good scrub. Your feet take thousands of steps each and every day, so pamper them every once in a while.
5. Daily Cleaning – You don’t need to do a deep cleaning on your feet every day, but perform so daily check and strive to keep them clean and dry. Look for the development of rashes, sores or moles, and check your nail beds for signs of an infection. When cutting your nails, avoid cutting them below the white part of the nail bed and cut them straight across. Rounding the edges of your nails can lead to ingrown toenails. Make it a point to scrub your feet every time you get in the shower to remove any grime or dirt.