This is How to Properly Use a Pillow for Your Feet
A long day at work can leave you exhausted and aching. You may spend forty or more hours a week sitting behind a desk, and putting in all that time can also put in some real damage to your body in ways that you might not even imagine. Headaches, chronic back pain, stiff joints, and sore neck are just a few of the common complaints you hear from desk workers pulling long hours.
Luckily, there are some simple fixes and tricks to alleviate your aches and pains. Using a pillow for your feet is one of the best ways to create a more comfortable working space for yourself. Foot pillows help your posture and position by elevating your feet while sitting. Foot pillows are placed directly below your office desk, creating a softer, more supportive barrier between your feet and the hard ground. They are very helpful in improving circulation in your feet and throughout your entire lower body: calves, thighs, hips, and back. With the pressure on your feet diminished, you will feel much better at the end of the day. And as an added bonus, you might just find your work more enjoyable and productive!
Read on for some handy (and feety!) tips on the best ways to use a foot pillow and maximize your comfort in the workplace.
Choose the Right Foot Pillow for You
Foot pillows can come in any number of shapes, sizes, and materials, so it is important to find the pillow that best suits you, your workspace, and your body’s needs.
When it comes to materials, a variety of fillers are offered for different foot pillows, such as traditional down or beads. However, it is recommended that you select a pillow that is made with memory foam, as it will mold itself to the particular contours of your feet, arches, and sitting position. Memory foam also offers additional resiliency and will not flatten out over time or lose form from use.
Because foot pillows are designed to fit underneath your desk, make sure to check the dimensions of the pillow you choose and measure the space where it will be placed. You also want to make sure that the pillow will be large enough to fit completely beneath both of your feet. To get the maximum benefits from using a foot pillow, it is very important that the entirety of both of your feet can rest comfortably upon it without hanging off the edges.
It is also important to select a shape that suits your sitting style and workspace. Foot pillows are offered in a wide variety of shapes, such as circular, ovular, triangle, half-moon, and teardrop. While all of these shapes offer different benefits, respectively, a teardrop-shaped foot pillow is known to best provide entire foot coverage and arch support, naturally curving along with the shape of your feet.
You may also want to consider looking for foot pillows with special extra features, such as non-slip bottoms that will keep it from sliding around on the floor beneath you. A foot pillow with a cover that can be easily removed then machine washed and dried is also highly desirable.
Putting Your Foot Pillow to Proper Use
Once you have found the perfect foot pillow for you and your workspace, you will want to be sure that you are using it correctly to get maximum comfort benefits.Â
- Place your foot pillow directly beneath your desk and in front of your chair, ideally on a surface that will not cause slippage. It is essential for your foot pillow to be properly secured to provide the best support possible.
- Make sure that your chair is adjusted to the proper height. Once you have placed your foot pillow in place, experiment with a few chair heights and postures to find what is most natural and comfortable to you.
- Put both of your feet entirely on the foot pillow. Make sure that your feet are not hanging off the edges and that they are equally balanced on the pillow’s surface. This will help to ensure proper alignment of your entire body from the ground up.
Get All the Benefits of Your Foot Pillow
Not only will your foot pillow make you feel better, but it has dramatic health improvement benefits, as well. According to several studies, people who sit in chairs at the wrong height or crossed-legged throughout the day suffer from incorrect alignment throughout the body, including contorted shoulders, stretched neck and head posture, and an unevenly tilted pelvic floor.Â
In extreme cases, the tight, static posture that comes from an uncomfortable work seat may lead to more serious health complications, such as the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Regular use of a foot pillow has been shown to promote micromovement in the lower body, which helps to keep the blood flowing and prevent pooling.
In short, when properly used, your foot pillow will provide you with a safe, comfortable, and healthy alternative to the constant readjustments and positioning that are common when working long hours at a desk.
