Guest Post: How New Socks Can Change Your Life

January 21, 2017 / 24 Comments

Guest post for Shelbee on the Edge
Written by Victoria Barnard

Socking it to your New Year’s Resolution

Inspiration can come from the smallest things. In January 2016, one of my good friends in an unprecedented fit of New Year resolution excitement found the inspiration to change a downward slide into obesity by making changes to his diet and taking up jogging. He chose to begin the popular “Couch to 5k” program, a running training schedule that purports to take you in around 9 weeks from consummate couch potato to running a 5-kilometer mini-marathon.
Well, much to his family’s surprise and joy he did indeed complete the 5k program as originally planned, then he ramped it up to running a 10k program, and he is now working on completing his first half marathon. His body mass index has gone from “obese” to “overweight” to “perfect”, all from a few simple changes to his lifestyle. He is an inspiration to us all.

Prepare for Success

One of the motivating factors that got him out of the door and onto the running track was performing the correct preparation beforehand. Though there’s a lot to be said about stopping procrastination and just starting new habits today, you can often go off half-cocked if you don’t prepare yourself adequately for a major change in lifestyle. If you don’t have the right prerequisites sorted, such as free time in your schedule, a workout plan, and the right equipment, then it’s all too easy to get demotivated and find excuses to quit before you hit February.

For the preceding Christmas, my friend has asked for and received from Santa a number of items that made his new hobby more enjoyable and less intimidating. Nike shorts, shoes, and running shirts, Bluetooth headphones, a run companion app for his smartphone, a water bottle – all of these things helped to keep him on track – literally.
The usual boring “socks for Christmas” gift had now been transformed into something much more inspirational for my friend. New sports socks to wear each time he went out for a run felt great and offered all-important cushioning for his novice feet.

Socks that Match your Personality Build your Confidence

It got me thinking about these little wonders we take for granted – socks! While my friend is using sports socks to make seismic changes in his life, you can also find socks that help you express yourself.

Foot Traffic is my current go-to site for awesome socks that put a smile on my face and a spring in my step. From the simplest no-show socks that feel great when you’re working out, to novelty socks, 3-D socks, and over-the-knee socks, Foot Traffic has you covered. In fact, there are hundreds of categories of socks from which to choose, so you’re always going to be able to find something that matches your style and outfits.

Recognizing and embracing our individuality through these little fashion choices can embolden us and make us feel more confident in our own skin. Teenagers, in particular, can find themselves at a time in their life where expressing their own quirks through fashion can be a simple and rewarding way to grow comfortable with the person they are.

But it’s not just teenagers who could get an inspiring confidence boost and a lift every day from trendy socks – it’s all of us! Consider how good it feels to put on a fresh, comfortable new pair of socks. It’s a little boost you get in the morning, and the compliments you receive through the day on your matching outfit are not too shabby either!

*Thank you, Victoria, for your inspirational and fun post! Great socks are definitely a wonderful way to express yourself. And self-expression is so important for great health!

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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24 Comments

  • sheela.goh

    January 21, 2017 at 5:33 pm Reply

    I’ve never really given socks much thought, focusing more, instead, on my gym footwear. But I realise that (whilst sub-consciously), I have indeed been giving them some attention. Instead of wearing regular gym socks, for the past 4 years, I’ve worn nothing but fun socks to the gym. Polka dots. Warhol colour madness. Plaid. Emojis. Skulls. You name it, I’ve had them on my feet. And, I’m guessing, that’s how I give myself a pre-workout pep “talk”. Bright (or rather, in your face) colours, peppered with patterns/prints that don’t take life too seriously, coming together to give me that gung-ho push I need before heading to the gym.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      January 21, 2017 at 6:15 pm Reply

      I absolutely love this perspective on socks, Sheela! I have always had a fascination with crazy, fun, whimsical footwear, so when I was approached with the request to have a guest post on my blog, I could not resist to see what angle they would take! I was so pleased with the outcome of How New Socks Can Change Your Life! Because, after all, it is the little things, the things we don’t think of, that can give us the little push we need. So why not embrace the whimsy of fun socks and treat our feet while we take the steps to change our lives!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Aimee

    January 21, 2017 at 7:45 pm Reply

    I’ve always loved crazy socks! Stripes and polka dots are my go-tos. (How do you spell “go to plural”?) I was often a jeans and a plain shirt/sweatshirt kind of dresser, and so i think fun socks made me feel a little edgy. Now that I am paying a little more attention to putting outfits together and accessorizing, my fun socks still fit right in!!! (Plus some help from you Shelbee rediscovering my edge!)

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      January 21, 2017 at 9:27 pm Reply

      Yay for rediscovering your edge, Aimee! I love when you get an unexpected surprise when someone’s fun socks peak out! And apparently, you don’t pluralize go-to because it is an adjective not a noun. So the proper way to phrase your above sentence would be “Stripes and polka dots are my go-to patterns.” Ha! (And yes, I did look it up so that I could properly answer your question! We really do learn something new every day!)

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Rena

    January 25, 2017 at 2:44 am Reply

    Great post and interesting perspective. I think that theme socks are great and I have several with Hanukkah prints. And when I say several, I mean like over 15. I think my first pair was a gift and I look for more of them every year. I’ve even given them as gifts to my family and Jewish friends. Now that I can buy them on-line, it’s not nearly as fun as finding them in a store but that’s what e-commerce is all about.

    Rena
    http://www.finewhateverblog.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      January 25, 2017 at 2:08 pm Reply

      Thanks for sharing this fun comment, Rena! I thought it was such an interesting perspective on socks, too. I was so pleased when the guest post was submitted and that’s the direction it went, I was unsure how it was going to be. And I love that you have amassed a collection of Hanukkah socks! But even with e-commerce at such a height, it is still fun to find them in stores…and even better when you find them on clearance, right? I love to find fun socks for under $1! But then I can’t resist them and as a result, I have about a million pairs of socks (or something close to that).

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Mandy

    January 26, 2017 at 12:46 pm Reply

    Kudos to the guy who changed his life when he got a pair of socks for Christmas! Wouldn’t it be great if that was all it ever took anyone! 🙂

  • Debbie Kitterman

    January 28, 2017 at 9:58 pm Reply

    Shelbee – I never really thought about socks in such a way.. they were a necessity, when wearing shoes and that is about all the thought I gave to it. However, lately I have been wearing the taller boot socks – – way fun and when I fractured my ankle the only shoes that were comfortable were sandals, but its the middle of winter, so I borrowed my daughters fun toe socks, with cool things and thought, hey this is fun… lol thanks for sharing your post.. we re neighbors at #FridayFrivolity

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      January 28, 2017 at 10:48 pm Reply

      Thanks so much, Debbie! I have always been a crazy sock lady for as long as I can remember! I am glad that fun socks were able to cheer you up a bit with a fractured ankle. Never underestimate the power of fabulous socks! Have a lovely weekend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Helen C

    September 19, 2017 at 5:29 pm Reply

    I have a big collection of socks and sometimes I feel a bit weird that people don´t give them the importance that they have! I like it when businessmen wear boring suits with colorful socks underneath though.
    Also, furry socks make my feet look like I am on the Muppet Show! 😉

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      September 19, 2017 at 8:34 pm Reply

      Helen, you are so funny! I have a ridiculous collection of socks myself. But then again, I have ridiculous collection of just about everything related to fashion! I am always partial to striped socks myself. And over the knee socks are my favorite! Thanks for checking out this post.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

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