Benefits of being barefoot

Did you know that getting outside to ground at least once a day not only gives you beautiful fresh air and vitamin D but has also been proven to improve your mental wellbeing.

If you are having a baby or have recently had one, looking after your mental health is very important. Unfortunately when in the newborn days (daze), your mental health can be one of the last things you have the resources for - it can take time and energy and money, and often these are things you may not have much access to while getting your head around raising a new human. However, getting outside is one of the easiest (and cheapest - it’s free!) ways to look after yourself.

Grounding, otherwise known as earthing, is simply walking on the ground or earth barefoot. You don’t actually need to be walking, simply sitting down in the sun can have just as many benefits. Just as long as your skin is touching the earth or grass (concrete doesn’t count!).

We were born barefoot and being barefoot is the best way to connect to our earth. Being barefoot has both physical and mental health benefits. Firstly, you’re outside in the fresh air getting sun, and the physiological effects of vitamin D for our health are now well documented. Secondly, being barefoot stimulates thousands of nerve endings in the feet, and this not only stimulates the brain but helps with balance and coordination. Thirdly it can reduce inflammation, enhance immunity and improve sleep. We all need more sleep!
It’s also beneficial to get outside with your children to ground, being barefoot is extremely regulating. Grounding can help calm an overstimulated baby and balance a toddler’s emotions. It’s like skin to skin contact.

Skin to skin contact with a newborn helps calm and regulate them, and is important in terms of also stimulating nerves, improving immunity and increasing emotional connection.

When you and your child ground yourselves to mother earth, it’s just like that skin contact. You receive the same benefits, it's crazy hey? The earth isn’t called our mother for no reason.

You don’t need to be outside for long to receive the benefits, even just half an hour a day you will notice the difference. Half an hour is doable for everyone, it’s your morning coffee sitting in the garden, hanging out washing, sitting on the grass during your lunch break, taking a walk along the beach or a swim in the ocean/river (yes it counts). Simply think of something you do inside and take it outside.

So get outside today, and tomorrow, and the next day. Let mother earth regulate your nervous system and help you to be the parent you want to be.

Remember Stay Barefoot & Salty

Kiesh xx