Last Updated on January 28, 2023 by Lori Geurin
Our feet are often neglected. And, although you might take the time to paint your nails now and again, many of us don’t think about pampering our tired feet. Our feet are what hold us up; they take the weight of our entire bodies and only rest when we are asleep.
So forget your hands today and pay a little more attention to your feet. Here are some excellent ways to keep them healthy and give them a well-needed pamper session.
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How To Relieve Tired Feet
1. Remove Dead Skin
Because there’s constant pressure on the skin of our feet, dead skin can build up on our soles and toes. It might seem like an unpleasant job, but filing away this skin leaves your feet feeling smoother and can prevent future issues. Investing in a small emery board or an electronic filer is a small price to pay for smooth and supple feet. Keep reading for a DIY foot scrub recipe.
2. Wear Insoles
Wearing comfort or orthopedic insoles can make an enormous difference to the health of your feet and your overall comfort. Insoles can be inexpensive and protect your arches from coming under added pressure when you walk around.
Following are links to my favorite orthotic insoles:
- Vionic, Slimfit Orthotic Inserts – these are great for low-profile shoes, such as flats, loafers, and oxfords
- Full-Length Vionic Active Orthotic – Athletic Shoe Inserts
- Vionic 3/4 Length Relief Insoles
They’re a small investment upfront but are so worth it. Mine have held up notably well, are high quality, and give excellent support for my plantar fasciitis and heel spur issues. If you have a pair of shoes that aren’t comfortable, then pop in these inserts, and you’ll feel a world of difference!
Related: Best Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms And Foot Pain
3. Prevent Foot Blisters
Many encounter that dreadful feeling when they buy a new pair of shoes, wear them for one day, and end up covered in foot blisters and sore spots. It takes time for your feet to heal and can prevent your ability to walk for a few days afterward. To prevent yourself from making this mistake it’s advisable to break your shoes in before you wear them out to work or an event. If you have a day at home, test out your shoes, and it will loosen the material for easier movement once you do wear them.
Another option is to use a wet newspaper. If you have a pair of shoes you want to wear soon for a party or an event, you can scrunch up some paper, dampen it and place it inside your shoes overnight to stretch the material. It will allow for a quick fix to your tight shoe problem.
4. Scrub Your Feet
Looking after your feet isn’t only about preventive measures. It’s also about taking some time to pamper your feet as you would with the rest of your body. You can buy a foot scrub from any drugstore. Or, if you like, you can make your own at home. Here is a simple DIY foot scrub recipe that will work wonders on your tired feet:
- 1 cup of sugar
- ½ cup coconut oil (melted in the microwave)
- 2-3 drops of any essential oil you like
Mix the ingredients together and store them in a tub for up to 4 months.
Or, if you’d prefer, here’s an amazing little all-natural scrub – Himalayan Salt Body Scrub
5. Get A Fish Pedicure
Now, some states in the USA have actually banned these pedicures for sanitary concerns. Plus, PETA has had problems with them too. However, you may have heard of the fad where people get small fish to eat the dead skin off their feet. It sounds weird and pretty disgusting, but it can be an excellent way to treat your toes and get rid of dead skin without having to use an emery board.
Some choose to relax in their seat and dip their toes in the warm water while small fish work their way around and clean their feet. Of course, this isn’t for everyone, and personally, I can’t recommend it due to all the concerns. But I know people who’ve tried it and say it’s amazing, so there you go.
6. Get A Pedicure
You may be familiar with getting your toenails done at the local salon before you go on vacation. However, how many of you have actually stayed for a full pedicure? Let beauty professionals pamper your feet and remove dead skin. They’ll massage your aching muscles and moisturize your feet to leave them feeling youthful and revitalized.
7. Wear Moisturizing Gel Socks To Bed
An easy fix for dry and sore feet is to buy a pair of moisturizing gel socks and wear them to bed. It might feel weird at first, but the socks are full of nourishing oils that set to work on your feet overnight and leave you with soft, supple skin in the morning.
Related: 36 Key Benefits Of Almond Oil For Skin, Hair And Health
8. Take Care Of Your Body
Finally, to truly take care of your feet and keep them healthy and functioning well, you need to look after your entire body. For example, regular exercise will strengthen the muscles in your feet. And eating protein can help repair damage to your aching muscles.
Taking probiotics helps your gut and allows you to digest essential nutrients you need for every part of your body, including your feet. A healthy lifestyle focused on clean eating full of leafy greens, healthy fats, nuts, and seeds will keep your entire body revitalized, from your head to your toes.
Related: 7 Reasons To Take Probiotics: Your Gut Will Thank You
What tips do you have for pampering tired feet?
Leave your comments below. Your thoughts matter to me!
If you enjoyed this, you’ll want to check out:
- 4 Ways To Embrace A More Natural Lifestyle
- 81 Uses For Coconut Oil
- 22 Amazing Uses For Apple Cider Vinegar
I need a pedicure so bad! It’s one of those things I feel guilty spending the money on, but you’re right.. sometimes it’s needed!
http://www.therookiewife.com
I hear you, Hannah!
This is much needed advice. We just moved and I’ve been standing for basically the past two months. It’s been a crazy busy time for us and I’m absolutely ready to slow down!
Moving is such hard work…girl, you deserve a little pampering! 🙂
This is exactly why I try to get a pedicure every two weeks even in the winter. It is a great way to give some comfort to my tired,aching feet.
This is wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
I love the newspaper idea! I am definitely going to try that on my new shoes. I have also wanted to get a fish pedicure but can’t find a place near me!
Oh, good – enjoy your new shoes! Bummer about the fish pedicure. I don’t know of anywhere around that offers it either.
These are definitely some great ways to pamper your feet! We had a fish pedicure the last time we were traveling and I loved it.
Thanks, Shannon! So many people are commenting on the fish pedicures – Thanks for sharing this!
while I love the idea of the foot scrub, I am not sure, I would ever do that fish thing. That sounds strange and nasty, lol. Thanks for all of the tips. Blessings!
Lol, Claudia – To each his or her own, right?! Thanks – Blessings to you, too!
I need to do a scrub on my feet!!! I forget about taking care of them sometimes
I understand….Our feet can be easy to forget about. I do the same sometimes. 😉
I have always wanted to try the socks or gloves to bed to help with my feet. I may just have to take the plunge and try.
Go for it! 🙂
I love getting a pedicure every few months, in between treating myself at home. Now if I could just figure out a way to keep my aloe socks on at night then my feet wouldn’t feel so dry.
This made me smile. 🙂 Sometimes my feet get hot at night and I rip my socks off. Maybe you could wear them around your house on the weekend?
I recently purchased gel insoles for my high heels. I am past due a pedicure!
Hey there, Gel insoles are pretty great, especially with heels!
This is really helpful for me. I suffer from unexplained foot pain. I have noticed though when I do not eat right – basically too much sugar & carbs – I am in so much more pain.
I’m glad you found it helpful. But, I’m so sorry about your foot pain. 🙁
Thanks for pointing this out about the sugar and carbs – because they’re inflammatory they tend to exacerbate body pain. I’ve noticed this too and have cut way back on both because of it.
I don’t know how I feel about a fish pedicure. Part of me wants to try it at least once but the other part of me just thinks it sounds so weird, lol
Hey Cassie, I understand and can relate to your thinking here.
I love everything on this post. While I have never tried the fish pedi one yet I would love to someday. It all looks so realxing and pampering for sure.
Awww, thanks, Angela!
I need to look into these gel socks! My feet get so dry and hard, I hate it. I actually find it hard to sleep when they are super dry.
The gel socks are great, but in a pinch I just use a thick moisturizing cream and throw on a pair of socks. You’ll be catching all the zzzz’s in no time, Rachel. 😉
I have never been good at giving myself a pedicure, so I get them done. I love how great my feet feel afterwards!
Doesn’t it feel wonderful? Thanks, Kelly!
This might sound crazy or gross but I like my feet to be a little rough. When all dead skin is removed they are so sensitive.
Not crazy or gross at all, Krystel! Everyone has their personal preferences. Some people’s feet are more sensitive than others.
I have been getting pedicures for decades! My daughter even go with me now and will tell me when they are ready for another! haha
That’s awesome, Teresa! So fun that you can share the experience with your daughter too!
I have actually always wanted to try a fish pedicure because I have heard it is very good for removing dead skin. I like the ide of a homemade foot scrub too x
Yes, I’ve heard they’re great for this too. I love using foot scrubs because they’re easy to mix up at home and leave my feet feeling so soft.
I have been needing to go get myself a pedicure for a while now. Running after 2 kids all day, I think I deserve a little pamper time lol
You totally deserve it, Jessica! 🙂
In soles are a life saver! Getting comfortable shoes is important as well. It’s good to make sure that you take good care of your feet. These are very good tips!
I couldn’t agree more and I’m so glad you pointed this out! Memory foam is your friend. Thanks!
I did a fish pedicure in China several years ago and it was such a crazy feeling! But, the fish ate all the dead skin and my feet felt fabulous!
I’m so glad to hear from someone who has done this before! My feet are a little ticklish so I’m afraid if I did it I’d be laughing the entire time.
Great tips. I use a lot of EOs and def. plan to make a foot scrub now!!
Thanks, Joleen – Foot scrubs are awesome!
These are wonderful ways to take good care of your feet. We often overlook this one! I think these tips are helpful!
Hey, Karen, Thanks! I agree, it is easy to overlook our feet. I’m so glad you found these helpful. 🙂
I really need to follow this. I just don’t have very much time to take care of myself, so my foot care is basically allowing myself to put them up at the end of the day.
I get that, Beth. Putting your feet up can definitely help though.
I am lucky i don’t have a lot of trouble with my feet. I love getting pedicures but rarely do it. I would like to try the fish nibbling just for the fun.
Hey Melissa, That’s good that you don’t have trouble. Pedicures are wonderful aren’t they?!
I can relate…I can count on one hand the number of pedicures I’ve had in my life. Think I should take my own advice here. ha
Such good information! I am on a strict pedicure every two week schedule. My feet were sooo neglected during my last pregnancy and I never want to go through that again. I wish I could keep socks on at night!
That’s great that you’re taking time to pamper your feet, Jessica! Pregnancy has a way of making foot care a bit more difficult. 🙂
If I could afford a pedicure every month I would. I do however take care of my feet by using a Pedegg, and foot creams.
I hear you about the pedicures…mine usually take place at home. Pedeggs are creams are a great way to keep your feet soft and in good shape!
I go for pedicures every week. I think good hygiene is super important and I like to make sure my feet are always smooth and cute.
That’s great, Robin! #goals