3 Common Foot-Related Mistakes Made By Restaurant Servers
If you're a restaurant server, taking good care of your body is a must. After all, you do work in an industry that can be very hard on your feet, back, shoulders, and other parts of your body. Many servers make mistakes when it comes to their feet, but avoiding these common but harmful mistakes can help you take much better care of your feet, and can help prevent you from being in pain at the end of a long shift.
1. Wearing the Wrong Shoes to Work
Perhaps one of the main mistakes that servers make when it comes to their feet is not wearing the right shoes to work. Your shoes should provide plenty of cushion for your feet and should fit properly; if they're even a half-size too big or too small, you could be at much more of a risk of foot-related problems, such as plantar fasciitis. Along with making sure that your shoes are comfortable and that they fit properly, you will also want to make sure that they have non-slip bottoms to help keep you safe. You can also try wearing inserts to help provide you with more comfort and support; there are some inserts that are designed specifically for people who spend a lot of time on their feet at work each day.
2. Not Seeing a Podiatrist
When you're always busy working, or when you might not have health insurance, going to the doctor may not be your number one priority. However, it's important to take care of your feet so that you can do your job and also enjoy the best possible quality of life. If you have any foot-related problems that are more than just mildly uncomfortable or that don't go away fairly quickly, seeing a podiatrist is important.
3. Staying on Your Feet Too Much
Of course, a big part of a server's job involves being on his or her feet. This means that you probably spend most of your shift standing up or walking around the restaurant. However, if at all possible, it is important to take occasional breaks and to get off of your feet, even if it's only for a few minutes. If you can, try sitting down and resting your feet during your lunch break. When doing tasks that don't require standing, such as rolling silverware or filling up salt and pepper shakers, try to sit down as well. If you can get off of your feet for even a part of the day, it can help a lot with pain.
