Growing up in a traditional Asian household, I’ve always been told as a child to take off my shoes before entering our house—or anyone’s house for that matter. (“Mom said it was good manners,” I’d say when asked why.) So I find the concept of wearing any footwear at home as foreign as speaking Filipino to a person who barely knows the language. Walking barefoot, feeling the cold tiles beneath my feet, was my norm.
I realized it was perhaps time to change that though when a friend of mine offered me a pair of slippers before entering her apartment. She said wearing them on the daily did wonders for her overall wellbeing. And I’m all for improving my quality of life, so why not try it, right? I had nothing to lose, anyway. (Okay, so maybe I lost a few hundred pesos to buy a pair of slippers, but that’s not the point.)
It felt weird at first, but after some time, I started seeing results. Besides the fact that slippers are comfortable and cozy, here are four more reasons I decided to wear them at home.
Protect feet from communicable diseases
The floor you’re walking on at home has more dirt and germs than what’s visible to the eye. While it’s totally fine to go barefoot and just clean your feet thoroughly at the end of the day, it would still be heaps better to wear something on your feet to prevent the contraction of communicable diseases such as athlete’s foot and other infections. A pair of supportive slippers can work as an excellent anti-fungal device for your toes without making you feel uncomfy. Their soft and breathable surface will always keep your feet free from microbes.
Reduce foot pain (and strain)
Slippers, specifically the acupressure ones, are a quick and easy way to give your tired feet a little treat. According to a holistic health advocate, acupressure slippers relieve foot pain as they massage your feet while targeting various pressure points. They can also help induce sleep, boost mental health, ease PMS symptoms, and alleviate back pain. But if wearing them for an extensive period of time is too much for you, you may switch to regular slippers roughly after 30 minutes of use.
Ward off common illnesses
While cough, colds, and the flu are commonly caused by the virus entering the body through your eyes, nose, or mouth, your feet might also be playing a part in it. One study suggests that cold feet can cause “reflex vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) in the nose and upper airways,” which may disrupt respiratory defense and eventually cause the onset of common cold symptoms. Wearing slippers can help keep your feet’s temperature in check, allowing your blood vessels to function normally.
Increase mood and productivity
In 2017, a British brand encouraged people to wear slippers at work as it could boost an individual’s mood and productivity. Although there’s no direct scientific explanation behind this claim, you may relate it to the effects of comfort dressing.
“Wear the clothes that make you feel [how you want to feel]. Confidence and comfort are both ingredients we have at our disposal that allow us to become more productive. And in most situations, one will help us more than the other,” Chris Bailey, author of “The Productivity Project,” told the New York Post. And since most of us are currently working from home anyway, maybe you can test this one out and see the results for yourself. (I’ll do the same!)
But when all is said and done and you’re still wary of wearing slippers at home, just think about how they can protect you from the painful aftermath of stepping on LEGO bricks… or from a random thumbtack lying comfortably on the floor.
