Your Feet Have The Answer To Better Productivity
It's time to give your brain a break and let your feet do the thinking
For the past six years I've been living my life barefoot.
It started on a cold winter's day at the park near my home. It had been raining the night before; the ground was muddy and wet. My baby had been up at least five times in the night, and my head was pounding. I desperately needed daylight and fresh air, so I made my way to the park.
And that's when I saw him—a random guy walking over the grass through the squishy mud, holding his shoes in his hands.
"Is this guy crazy?" I muttered under my breath.
Yet I felt an overwhelming urge to copy him. I took my trainers and socks off and stepped from the path into the squishy mud.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh."
It was so strange, yet such a relief. Before this moment, the only times I'd ever gone barefoot outside were at the beach, when I was going in or out of the water—and even then, I'd mostly wear flip flops. This was an entirely new sensation for me.
But I loved every second of it.
Little did I know that this moment would forever change the course of my life and my loved ones'.
The Answer is Under Your Feet
We’re always on the lookout for new ways to be more productive—hacks, tools, techniques. But what if the answer has been right under our feet all along?
Walking barefoot isn’t just something kids do for fun. It turns out, ditching your shoes can help clear your mind, reduce stress, and even improve your focus.
Science backs it up too—barefoot walking is a natural way to sharpen your brain, boost your energy, and help you get more done.
Let’s dive into why this simple practice might just be the productivity hack you didn’t know you needed.
The Mindfulness Connection: Walking Barefoot as a Moving Meditation
Mindfulness has been getting a lot of attention for its ability to help us stay present, reduce stress, and get more done. But here’s something cool—walking barefoot can actually act as a mindfulness tool all on its own.
1. Feeling the Ground Beneath You
Your feet are packed with thousands of nerve endings, designed to pick up sensations from whatever surface you’re walking on. Without shoes getting in the way, your brain gets way more input—different textures, temperatures, and even tiny changes in terrain. Paying attention to these details naturally pulls your focus into the moment, making barefoot walking a kind of built-in meditation.
2. Boosting Brainpower While You Walk
You’ve probably heard that walking can help clear your head, but walking barefoot might actually boost your brain even more. A study from the University of North Florida found that people who walked barefoot for just 16 minutes improved their working memory by 16% compared to those who wore shoes. The reason? Barefoot walking wakes up parts of your brain linked to focus, awareness, and problem-solving. In other words, your feet do more thinking than you might realize!
Plus, the study found that going shoeless increases proprioceptive awareness—your body’s ability to sense where it is in space—which can help you think more clearly and adapt to new challenges more easily.
Grounding (Earthing): Recharging Your Body and Mind
There’s another reason walking barefoot feels so good—it helps you “ground” yourself, literally. Grounding (or earthing) is the practice of connecting with the Earth's natural energy by having direct skin contact with the ground. And research shows it can do some pretty amazing things for your body and mind.
1. Lowering Stress and Keeping You Calm
Grounding has been shown to lower cortisol levels, aka the stress hormone. In one study, people who practiced grounding had fewer night-time cortisol spikes, meaning they slept better and felt less stressed overall. And let’s be honest—when you’re less stressed, you can think more clearly, focus better, and get more done.
2. Fighting Fatigue and Brain Fog
Ever feel drained halfway through the day? Grounding might help with that too. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that grounding reduces blood viscosity, which improves circulation and helps oxygen reach your brain more efficiently. Better blood flow = more mental clarity and energy.
Even more impressive, a review of grounding studies found that people who made earthing a habit reported higher energy levels and less fatigue, likely because of better oxygen delivery and reduced inflammation.
3. Sleeping Better for Peak Performance
A good night’s sleep is non-negotiable if you want to be productive, and grounding may help you get there. In a study on sleep, participants who slept on a grounded mattress pad had fewer night-time wake-ups and deeper, more restorative sleep. That means they woke up feeling more refreshed and alert—perfect for tackling the day ahead with focus and motivation.
How Barefoot Walking Helps You Get More Done
So, what does all this mean for your productivity? Here’s how slipping off your shoes can help you be more efficient:
Sharper Focus: The sensory experience of walking barefoot trains your brain to be more present, making it easier to focus.
Less Stress: Combining mindfulness with grounding helps lower cortisol, clearing your head and improving decision-making.
More Energy: Better circulation, improved sleep, and reduced inflammation keep you energized throughout the day.
Enhanced Creativity: Walking barefoot in nature has been shown to boost problem-solving skills and spark fresh ideas.
How to Add More Barefoot Time to Your Routine
You don’t have to ditch your shoes all the time to get the benefits. Here are some easy ways to add barefoot walking into your day:
Start Your Morning Grounded: Step outside and walk on grass or soil for a few minutes to wake up your senses.
Take Mindful Barefoot Breaks: Instead of scrolling on your phone, step outside barefoot for a quick mental reset.
Go Barefoot on the Weekend: Try walking on natural surfaces like sand, dirt, or grass whenever you get the chance.
Kick Off Your Shoes at Home: Even walking barefoot indoors can help activate your senses and promote relaxation.
To Sum Up
Walking barefoot isn’t just for kids or beach days—it’s a simple, natural way to improve focus, reduce stress, and boost productivity.
By spending just a little time each day connecting with the ground, you can sharpen your mind, sleep better, and feel more energized.
So, if you’re looking for an easy way to level up your productivity, maybe it’s time to lose the shoes and let your feet do the thinking!
Have you tried barefoot walking or grounding? How did it make you feel?
-Selda
P.S. If you don’t like the cold, I highly recommend using indoor grounding products (after you’ve tested each socket to make sure its fully grounded). We sleep grounded on these sheets, and use these mats under our desks.
P.P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this article, please hit the like 🤍 button to let me know, and share it with your friends, family and colleagues so that they benefit from this research too!
You have inspired me to take the shoes and socks off more often!
I spend some time outside barefoot as soon as the snow and ice goes away. In the winter not so much.
But at home, I always go barefoot. I walk out on the deck without shoes or socks even in the winter sometimes if it's nice.
I LOVED this and 1079% agree. Been barefootin' like you for a few years. Today I took my first post swim barefoot beach run of the year! Literally 300 yards on pebbles - hurt like hell but felt SO good after! Thanks for the reminder... I also just ordered some new barefoot shoe/socks as the pavements round me are not always that conducive to barefoot running.