How I Ditched My 'Normal' Shoes and Found My Feet Again - My Barefoot Journey

For years, I was in a toxic relationship with my shoes. It sounds dramatic, I know, but hear me out. My daily routine involved forcing my feet into smart, narrow work shoes that looked the part but felt like a cage. After decades of this, I started noticing the toll it was taking. My feet just weren't... happy. They looked a bit misshapen, with the beginnings of what I now know are hammer toes. Yuck.

From uncomfortable work shoes to days like this! My journey to barefoot living (and getting my three boys involved!) has been a game-changer for our feet and our adventures.

On top of that, I tried to stay active by running, but my standard, cushioned running shoes weren't helping. My knees were getting progressively sorer after every run. Coupled with years spent hunched over a desk, my posture was nothing to be proud of. I just figured this was a normal part of getting older.

But then, a couple of things happened that completely changed my perspective.

First, my mum was advised by a professional to start wearing barefoot shoes to help strengthen her feet and arches. I was intrigued but sceptical. It sounded a bit... out there.

Then, the world went into lockdown.

Like many, I was suddenly working from home. And like many, I pretty much stopped wearing shoes. Around the same time, I saw the endurance athlete Tony Riddle running his barefoot challenges on social media. It was a proper wake-up call. Here was this guy doing incredible feats of endurance with nothing on his feet, and I couldn't even run a 5k without my knees complaining. The final penny dropped when I realised I hadn't actually worn a pair of "normal" shoes for months. My feet were already living a semi-barefoot life at home.

Maybe the leap wouldn't be so big after all.

So, I took the plunge and ordered my first pair of barefoot shoes.

The first thing I noticed was the comfort. It was instant. The flexibility was incredible, and the wide toe box felt less like a shoe and more like a second skin. My toes could actually spread out! I won't lie, the style took some getting used to. Early barefoot shoes weren't exactly known for their fashion credentials. But honestly, things have moved on so much since then. The designs are better, the options are wider, and you can now get minimalist shoes that look great.

The real magic, though, happened over the following months and years. The benefits were tangible. My foot strength increased massively – I could feel muscles I never knew I had. My running form changed, the sore knees disappeared, and I felt more connected and stable.

And the mental side of it? That was a surprise. I found myself actively seeking out opportunities to get my shoes off and feel the bare ground under my feet. Walking on grass, sand, or earth after a day's work became a way to de-stress and reset. It sounds a bit hippyish, but that feeling of connection is genuinely brilliant for my mental wellbeing.

Now, it’s been five years since I made the switch. My shoe rack looks very different. I haven't worn anything other than barefoot shoes in all that time. In fact, I threw all my old shoes away. Well, almost all of them. I’ve kept one pair of smart black dress shoes, which I begrudgingly keep for the odd wedding or funeral. And honestly? Wearing them now feels like torture. They feel tight, restrictive, and just plain wrong.

My journey from sore knees and squashed toes to strong, healthy feet has been one of the best things I've ever done for my health. It all started with a bit of curiosity and the realisation that maybe our feet knew what they were doing all along.

You can learn how to transition to barefoot shoes yourself in this blog. It's aimed to help children but equally relevant to grown up kids as well!

How about you? Are you barefoot curious? What’s holding you back? Let me know in the comments!