I've had Life. Changing. results with sleep since incorporating a grounding mat in my bed.

llitm, you can't just say that and skip off into the sunset. Come back here and tell us more!!

I’m usually barefoot inside the house. My feet seem to like it! In winter I wear slippers.

I am barefoot now and usually am indoors unless it is cold enough to require socks or slippers. I have some Clark's sandals and Rothy's flip flops to slip on to go outdoors, but I tend to walk outside barefoot unless I am leaving the house or the weather requires foot covers. If I have to get in the car to go, I have shoes on.

Somewhere, I have the photo my parents took of my first time barefoot on grass. The terror on my face! I'm still much the same. bpath and I must be related, with our sensitive feet.

I'm no longer steady enough on my feet to go barefoot or wear only socks indoors. We have hardwood flooring (and tile) throughout our home. I put on slippers or clogs if I need to make a 3 a.m. trip to the toilet. I also need the support of tie-up shoes with rubber soles. Feet spread with age. My 7.5 AAA feet are now 8.5 or 9 narrow. My arches are lower.

Is this a good place to ask a foot-related question?

I want a mat in our shower so I won't slip. Why do ads for mats say "Not for use on tile floors"? The only non-tile applications I've seen are prefab plastic shower units or porcelain bathtub/shower combos.

Our MBA shower is 3' X 5' tile, slightly canted, with a central drain.

I grew up barefoot like most of us. Loved it. Until, that is, until my hippie boyfriend and I were romantically running barefoot through a field near my home . . . and, I ran over a broken bottle🥴. He carried me straight into my family doctor’s office, which was thankfully very close by. But, couldn’t hold my hand while my foot was being VERY stitched up because, as with many people, he fainted at the sight of needles. After that, I’ve been wearing sandals or shoes most all the time. You just never know . . . . 😜

Put me down for almost always barefoot. It is harder to do outdoors in Florida due to the heat and the insects but I make sure to ground myself outdoors whenever I can. I have an indoor grounding mat that I use daily as well as a pillow case that is used nightly. DH didn’t like the texture of the pillow case.

The Earthing Movie is available on youtube if you are curious.

As a child I wasn't allowed to go barefoot in the house or outside so have the habit of wearing shoes and continue to wear them all the time. I wear water shoes from the locker room to the pool deck. As I get older I am more worried about slipping on our floors.

I wear slippers in the house. Have two pairs. One for no socks and one a size larger for socks in the winter

As soon as I walk in my house, my shoes are off! I didn't grow up in a "no shoes" house - and I have a very large shoe collection - but I never wear shoes when I'm at home or at my daughters' /sisters' /friends' houses. I don't have a rule of "no shoes" - but my daughters both never wore shoes in the house.

I am barefoot most of the time - except I wear socks during the winter. I HATE wearing socks when it's nice outside - I only wear them when I change into my sneakers when working out/bike riding during the other 3/4s of the year.

Now - being barefoot outside is different - I have a lot of allergies/sensitivities due to having a form of mast cell disease (systemic mastocytosis) - so, I'm careful about coming into direct contact with potential triggers. Plus, I don't like having dirty feet.

I started doing quite a bit of gardening over the past three summers. I would wear flip flops outside every day (and I was on my feet a lot out there - in addition to landscaping beds, I made 30-35 containers = quite a bit of work out there).

About a month into the summer, I started having issues with my knees and lower back hurting. I started wondering if it was related to the flip flops I was wearing out in the yard.

I purchased some Oofos - and they solved my knee/lower back pain. They were recommended to me by several people. They provide good support.

They sell them on Amazon also - they have random sizes on sale. On their website, they have different ones on sale also.

Yes, I do. We take off our shoes when we come inside. When it is cold, I wear slippers or socks. I also like to walk barefoot outside as often as possible, too.

Coming back to share that hubby is a barefooter. He jokes that it's his hillbilly blood (his mom's side were Hatfields).

And as for non-slip in the tub/shower. Those mats can slip! I bought these non-skid decals after that happened to me in our tub/shower - and they're easier to keep clean too:

They have a good grippy texture, and come in many shapes and colors - even clear. I like them a lot better than the mat.

Chisue, we have a Gorilla brand mat in our shower. It was part of the house prep before DH's surgery. I went to check the listing for it and had to really look to see that it said not to use on tile. I don't have a tile floor, but I would expect the reason they say that is because there are so many different sizes and shapes of tile and grout lines can vary. The potential problem is that the grout lines or texture of the tile surface could be enough to prevent the suction cups on the bottom from gripping. The entire bottom of that mat is suction cups, so I would think it would work on many, maybe even most tile floors, but they are giving the one-size-fits-all/CYA instruction there. If you have pebble tile, mosaics or tile with a texture or pronounced rounded edges, it might not work as well, but I think it would be worth giving a try. If some of the suction cups grip well, that may be enough.

All day, every day.

I work from home. I only put shoes on if I have to go somewhere. I do have a pair of slides by each exterior door to slip on to walk in the yard - don’t wanna step on a bee. We dont wear shoes in our home.

As a child and in my teens to very early 20s I went barefoot as much as possible. After that period I wear something on my feet all the time unless I am in water, on sand or in bed. In the house I am usually in flip flops in the warm month. In the winter I like Bear Paw boots better than slippers in the house. Recently I had my very first attack of Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot. I bought some "yoga" flip flops with an arch support and they are really helping me avoid the pain. Meanwhile I'm trying to walk less. put my foot up when possible and do stretching exercises. The former being most difficult because of my lifestyle.

Growing up we wore shoes to church and school. Mama did not care if we wore shoes or not inside the house. About the time that school was out in the spring we were ready to abandon shoes completely. Mama would tell us that we could go barefoot outside "when a lizard had to hold its tail up to cross the hot oil topped road." I jokingly told that to my kids and then to my grandkid. Does anyone remember going barefoot outside and stepping on grass burs?

I grew up in the country with gravel roads and a long gravel driveway. I would run down the gravel driveway to check the mail everyday-no problem. Now...is a different story.

We have authentic mexican saltillo tile in our home-VERY rough on the feet if you go barefoot very long. I have a pair of shearling-lined Arizona Birkenstocks I wear in the house only. The first thing I do in the AM and drink my coffee (before getting truly dressed for the day) is put on my baggy cutoff jean shorts, a sweatshirt (we keep it cold in our house) and my birks.

I am always bare foot at home and often wear ” bare foot” shoes for walking, errands, and yard work. I feel more stable when I can feel the ground‘s dips and pebbles. I like a wide toe area for proper toe splay which I think also helps my balance. For work my dress shoes are arch supporting with a slight wedge.

i used to be barefoot in the house always. over the years, arthritis in my feet combined with bunions and ridiculous hammertoes has made walking barefoot very painful so i'm forced to wear shoes. the only shoes that are comfortable are the ones i get from Orthofeet. i have a pair for outside, a pair for inside and a third pair for going out away from home.

i consulted an ortho foot specialist several years ago and the only thing that can be done is complete surgical reconstruction of both feet and that just isn't going to happen.

@ Betty Lee - we have these here in FL:

Horrible things - the tiny needle tips break off under the skin when you try to remove them - and they can hide in the grass:

And I'd almost forgotten about the several times I stubbed my big toes as a kid, and partially 'decapitated' them on the concrete gutters in front of our house. Found out later I'd broken one and didn't even notice.

Ninapearl...I too have inherited duck feet from my dad, and have calluses, Taylor bunions, hammertoes and very high arches. Only ugly, sensible, WW shoes for me, thank you. And the surgery does sound horrific, and is not happening here either. I have noticed that wide shoes are becoming more available and better looking these days though. Bout time.

We would lose the shoes the last day of school through the first day of school until I was in 8th grade. With 3 older brothers my shoes were hand me downs or clearance shoes and all just kind of fit hurting my feet so I developed a disdain for shoes in general.

I'm always barefoot in the house where shoes aren't allowed and right now I have 5 pair of shoes outside the backdoor with the only controllable shoes the ones feeling like I'm barefoot. When I joined the army the army boots were the best I ever had with bearable discomfort but I was allowed to run our 3 mile jogs 3 times a week barefoot. The runs were to slow so I was allowed to run out of formation to run circles around the company, they all thought I was nuts.

Roarah, I've never heard of "barefoot" shoes so did a google search to learn more. I believe next week I'm going shopping for a pair and give them a try so thanks for the tip.

Kevin, what you might look at are ’minimalist’ shoes. I have a pair of Merrell’s which work well for me for wearing out and about. I think they make a better selection for men than for women.

My Pilates instructor and her husband have been wearing minimalist shoes for a number of years. They started out with Vibram five fingers. She is now running long distances and does a lot of her running barefoot or with running sandals (yes they do make them), or Altras if she needs a sturdier shoe.

I do go barefoot inside quite a bit, especially in summer. All our floors are hardwood or tile, with rugs a few places, so I don’t like the slippery-ness of socks. I have some slip on merino wool Bombas with grips on the bottom I love and they are like being barefoot so I wear them often. As someone else mentioned, I had my fair share of bee stings running around outside as a kid in the summers so I don’t do that anymore, but I do appreciate the advantages of grounding and will cool my feet in the grass now and then.

Lucille, the documentary above is great place to start. Andrew Doan, MD, Phd, MPH has youtube videos, and is an admin on FB group, Earthing and Grounding HEALS. This book, too: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=grounding+books&crid=PAY380RCL9KB&sprefix=grounding+books%2Caps%2C174&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

It's all pretty straightforward. If you get a mat for under your bottom sheet, the sheet should be 100% cotton and bare skin in contact with the mat (not necessary for the entire body). Like Joan, I also have a grounding pillowcase, and travel with a smaller mat. Feel free to msg with any questions.

No shoes on in the house. Barefoot during the warmer months. Socks on in the colder.

Inside always barefoot or socks, outside always shoes.

No barefoot outside. I always wear shoes and have toes covered for safety, only wear flip flops by the pool.

I have indoor sandals, It would be a pair of flip-flops except I don’t like how they feel. We don’t wear outdoor shoes in the house, yet I still feel better getting into bed with feet that haven’t touched the floor. In the middle of the night I don’t seem to care.

I have always preferred being barefoot when I could be. A couple of years ago I started getting back pain when I walked barefoot on hard surfaces, so now I wear my house sandals or slippers when home. While I would much rather be barefoot, I now have a happier back, soft feet and my toes do not randomly encounter rogue chair legs.

hobbitmom oh yes, the calluses!! i go to a podiatrist every 6-7 weeks where he goes to work shaving them with a scalpal. it helps SO much and the relief is instant.

the Orthofeet brand has a couple of options for shoes with an extra-high toe box. they are the only shoes i can wear. anything else causes blisters on my hammertoes.

i remember seeing the xrays of my feet when i consulted the ortho specialist. i swear, my feet looked like strange, twisted aliens from a galaxy far far away.

There are tons of studies that walking barefoot has benefits including improved balance, posture, and cognitive functions all of which would decrease inflammation and improve sleep.

Do I believe in its cause being due to electrical exchanges, not really. I believe it has more to due with restoring our bodies to its original and proper posture which lessens chronic pain and inflammation. pediatric supported recommendation's for babies first shoes being soft shoes only, like robeez, are based on this knowledge.

Early posture dictates behavior and cognitive development. Children who skip crawling often have learning differences such as dyslexia. Attention deficit is believed to be linked to non integration of symmetrical tonic neck reflexes which proper walking, and sitting posture is shown to help alleviate.

Proper posture is essential for health, sleep, pain reduction, and cognation and walking barefoot has many studies to support this. Why it works might be up for debate but that it works has science backing it.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11211751/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10361412/

LARS - You mentioned that you have a foot massage tool that helps you treat your neuropathy. Could you tell us about that tool, please?

We have a shoes-free home and I do yoga, so I am barefoot a lot. I love to go barefoot outside when I have the opportunity, which doesn't present itself often. Maybe it's different in places where you are either indoors or in your car, but I walk about 3 to 6 miles a day on city sidewalks. TBH, I'm a little grossed out by people who walk around the city and then wear those shoes in their apartment.

Llitm, I think maybe you are new here. I'm not sure what to think about grounding but knew nothing about it and appreciate the info even though I may ultimately not be on the same page. We can all have our own opinions. If you don't want to be baited into an argument I respectfully suggest to you that you just ignore him. Just because he throws a ball with your name on it doesn't mean you have to catch it.

Lucille, I don't give him any credence; I simply didn't want others interested in the concept to be swayed by his comments.

Llitm he has as much right to an opinion as any of us. It is ok if we are swayed by others, I have many times taken and appreciated the advice of people here. I keep an open mind, and if someone has good facts we should all listen. We are not required to agree with the opinions of others.

Again, I didn't want others influenced by false information.

So far neither of you have presented any factual information, both of you have presented your opinions on credentials. You have presented a list of books. That is not fact. Both of you have an equal right to present your opinions. Perhaps if this is something you are interested in, you could start a new thread and include some factual info, you could even invite Dr. Doan. I start new threads all the time.

?????????????????????????

Could we get back to flip flops and stuff?

Probably not a good day to go barefoot on the driveway.

I wish people who want to lecture or argue would start a different thread.

OK, well, you asked me to return with more info and I answered with sources for you to pursue; apparently I shouldn't have. I then followed with factual information re Dr. Doan after he was referred to as "a con game".

As far as the factual/scientific benefits of grounding are concerned, everyone is free to do their own research.; I have no interest in doing it for you. To get you started from Chat GPT:

"The benefits of grounding (or “earthing”)—the practice of physically connecting your body to the Earth’s surface (e.g., walking barefoot on grass or soil)—are often discussed in wellness circles. The scientific evidence is limited but intriguing, and here’s a balanced breakdown:

What the Science Does Suggest

Several small studies and reviews suggest potential benefits in the following areas:

Reduced Inflammation and Pain

• Studies: A 2015 review published in the Journal of Inflammation Research found that grounding may reduce inflammation markers and pain in subjects with chronic conditions.
• Mechanism: It’s theorized that the Earth’s surface provides free electrons, which may neutralize free radicals (unstable molecules that promote inflammation).

Improved Sleep

• Evidence: Small trials have shown improvements in sleep quality, cortisol rhythm, and reduced nighttime wake-ups after subjects were grounded while sleeping.
• Mechanism: Normalizing circadian cortisol levels, which play a role in stress and sleep regulation.

Cardiovascular Effects

• Findings: Some studies suggest grounding may reduce blood viscosity, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• Study example: A 2013 study showed decreased blood viscosity after just two hours of grounding.

Mood and Stress Reduction

• Findings: Subjects reported lowered stress, depression, and fatigue scores in small, controlled studies.
• Possible reason: Grounding may affect autonomic nervous system balance, leaning toward a more relaxed, parasympathetic state.

But… the Caveats

• Most studies are small, often with fewer than 60 participants.
• Some are not placebo-controlled or lack blinding—raising concerns about bias or placebo effect.
• Nearly all have been published in niche or alternative journals, not high-impact mainstream medical journals.
• More rigorous, large-scale trials are needed to confirm effects and determine causality.

What Does Mainstream Science Say?

• Skepticism remains, primarily due to the lack of large, randomized, placebo-controlled trials.
• But some physiologists and integrative medicine researchers are intrigued enough to call it “promising” and worth studying further.

Bottom Line

Claim

Evidence Strength

Reduces inflammation

Moderate (small studies, biological plausibility)

Improves sleep

Moderate (some cortisol studies, subjective improvement)

Reduces stress

Moderate (subjective reports, HRV data)

Improves heart health

Weak to Moderate (early findings, needs more data)

Conclusion: Grounding is low-risk and may offer genuine benefits—especially for stress, sleep, and inflammation—but scientific backing is preliminary, not definitive."

What a strange board with lots of gaslighting.

I like my reef sandals on days when the pavement is too hot ;)

I gave you a brief explanation in the form of a book recommendation.

" Here's a hint to use on this and future cons. Medical experts and researchers treat patients and do research. They don't do YouTube videos, write books sold to the general public, or actively participate in social media."

Do you mean like Dr. Fauci with his 25 books, who also appeared on countless youtube channels and used social media to communicate health information and address misinformation to cover up his own lies and cover up the real truth?

The only balderdash comes from your own words. What ever the doctor llitm is referring to makes absolute scientific sense because functions of the body are controlled by electrical polarity differentials activating voluntary and involuntary responses. I'm up to the idea and will plug myself in to a grounding outlet tonight.

Kevin, I also disagreed with Elmer's opinion on medical experts and Dr. Fauci is exactly who I thought of! But I would be happy if the discussion went to its own thread. I think I should take my own advice and start ignoring some of this.

What if the reason for the lack of large scales studies is because the results will cause a loss of revenue for the big corporations?

Sometimes I just resonate with the truth and the common sense of something. I don’t need credentialed folks to tell me my thoughts are valid. After reviewing the limited information available, I choose to hedge my bets and follow the best practices. For other people, wearing plastic and rubber insulators all day might resonate with them. We are all free to choose what is best for us as long as we try not to force it on others.

Name calling is never required or appreciated.

I am barefoot in the house most of the time. I work from home, so I'm home and barefoot a lot. I do often wear wool socks in the winter to keep my feet warm, although about a month ago I experienced the risk of that on wood floors. My new home has wood floors throughout (and I'm used to carpet) and I managed to slip and fall pretty hard while moving too fast in wool socks. Maybe I should look into some grippy socks. My husband and I keep a pair of flip-flops near the doors so we have something to throw on to go outside. I'm fine walking on my deck barefoot but am reluctant on grass or bare dirt due to risk of bees or other sharp things (pine needles, thorns, etc) that I might not see.

Even as a child I think I was only barefoot some of the time (inside always and only sometimes outside). And my barefoot time outside sharply decreased after stepping on a bee. I wonder if kids that were constantly barefoot weren't discouraged by bee stings or were just lucky enough not to encounter them.

I try to discourage wearing outside shoes in my house, although I'm not militant about it. I sometimes walk briefly if I put on my shoes and forget something in another part of the house. Or if I'm doing projects I might be in and out wearing shoes and not bother to remove them. I prefer if guests remove their shoes and try to provide a bench or chair near entry points to make that easier.

For me, my very old Birkenstocks are really like going barefoot.

Went barefoot yesterday I took this photo of my footprints You can see where I turned around and walked backwards a few steps