A Barefoot Nature Walk in the Cold Was Just What I Needed
I spent 14 hours troubleshooting an electrical issue in the cold- trudging through the woods, lots of squatting and kneeling as I tried to find a short in a 120 foot run of cable to the RV my mom is staying in temporarily.
The day started at 22°F and only got up to 42°F. My mom didn’t have electricity or heat, so I powered through and worked outside in the cold from 7am until 9pm, well after dark. I had 18,000 steps according to my Apple watch!
By the time I finished, I needed rest and recovery.
So the next morning, after a good night’s sleep, I took a barefoot walk through our woods. 36 degrees out and it felt amazing!
Why I do barefoot Winter walks
I’ve been barefoot as much as possible all of my life. I do it because it feels good and I know it’s healthy for me. It enhances my aliveness. If it’s above 30°Fahrenheit, I’m often barefoot on hikes in the woods.
There’s actual science behind why it is rejuvenating—cold therapy, earthing and grounding, and forest bathing all give me benefits and help me to heal and recover.
I take a 20-minute loop around our woods along the creek with my dog Daisy. It’s a walk I take frequently as a decompression or recharging ritual. I don’t really worry about my feet. Sometimes they get numb if it’s colder—in the low 30s or even the 20s—but mostly they just feel cold. And it’s a pleasant feeling for me.
I’ve done a lot of cold immersion over the years—daily outdoor cold showers 365 days a year, cold plunges, sitting on the bottom of the river in the middle of winter. Cold is my friend, and I know it’s giving me benefits.
Barefoot Walking Health Benefits
Proprioception – more muscles in your feet get used and strengthened, which helps with balance and posture over time.
Cold Therapy Benefits
Cold exposure triggers norepinephrine, which reduces inflammation, boosts mood, and trains your stress response. It conditions the vascular system. Cold makes your blood vessels constrict, then reopen when you warm up. Repeating this improves vascular tone and flexibility.
Grounding Benefits
Grounding theory states that when you connect to the earth, the whole body becomes more negatively charged, meaning an abundance of free electrons.
Free electrons flowing into the body from the earth neutralize the positively charged free radicals that are the hallmark of chronic inflammation.*
*There isn’t strong science on grounding yet. Much of what’s out there comes from Clint Ober’s work. Ben Greenfield is supportive of the idea, while Andrew Huberman says the current data is interesting but not yet convincing.
And forest bathing?
Trees release compounds that lower my cortisol and boost my immune system, while the filtered, dappled light regulates my nervous system. The forest is literally medicine.
Peace and harmony from being out in nature
Nature Has Always Been My Church
Ever since I was a kid, nature has been my church. There’s peace and tranquility by just being out in nature alone or with my dog. It feels like a walking meditation. My mind clears, and I feel at peace.
I’ve been barefoot most of my life. My mother was a barefoot hippie, and it always made sense to me to be barefoot whenever I could.
If You Feel Called to Try It
I’m no expert on anything that has to do with science or health—I’m just a health hacker experimenting on myself, and this stuff works for me.
If 36 degrees feels scary, try going out in 50 or 60 or 40 and work your way down to colder temperatures. You can also do other cold exposures like cold showers or cold immersion.
Trust your own judgement and take it slow. Get help from a guide if you want support. If you have any health conditions, I’d recommend that you check with your doctor before any extreme cold exposure.
Maybe it’s crazy, but it has worked for me.
Are you already doing cold exposure? Barefoot walking? Forest bathing? Drop a note in the comments, I’d love to know what you’re up to!
If you like this post, you might also like this one on 8 years of tiny house life in the woods.
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