Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Is it reasonable to be on your feet for 6+ hours a day

88 replies

Rosebel · 07/10/2021 23:10

If you have a job that involves walking pretty much solidly for 6 hours did it affect your health?
Three years in (although I had a break for maternity) and I still get pain in my shoulders, back and legs. As for my poor feet...
A couple of other people I work with have similar issues and there's a part of me that wonders how good it is for your health to be walking for 6 hours.
Just wondering how other people found it and if there's a way to stop being in constant pain.

OP posts:

lubeybooby · 08/10/2021 08:30

I used to do 8 hour shifts on my feet plus walking all the time. I was definitely healthier than now with mostly desk working

I can't stress the importance of good comfy shoes enough, it really helps the rest of your body if you're not tense and stressed because your feet hurt so much

Keladrythesaviour · 08/10/2021 08:32

All my jobs have been 8+ hours on my feet. One of my colleagues has done the job for 20+ years and she has bad varicose veins, but other than that I think it's pretty good for you - think of your step count!!
Good shoes are a must. Bad shoes = bad posture = joint pains.

MacMahon · 08/10/2021 08:33

Sitting for 6 hours is much worse. I agree with the advice to get good shoes. I recommend Vivo Barefoot.

NorthSouthcatlady · 08/10/2021 08:35

I would say it was reasonable but l have had jobs where it is 12-13 hours a day. So 6 hours doesn’t seem that long

WhatsAppening · 08/10/2021 08:38

I work in hospitality. Sometimes 16hr shifts (although that’s unusual) but at least one 14hr a week, one 10 and the rest 9.

Memory foam soled Sketchers are game changing.

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/10/2021 08:39

@Missmissmiiiiiiiiisss

Yes as a teacher I was on my feet for the vast majority of the day. Very comfortable shoes help!

I was going to say this.

ZenNudist · 08/10/2021 08:39

As someone who is desk bound and has the neck back and eye problems to prove it, I'd say being active is the best option. Both of my parents were on their feet all day (teacher and retailer) and have no such back and neck issues into their 70s.

mayblossominapril · 08/10/2021 08:41

The jobs where you are moving around I have found fine. The ones where you have to standstill most of the day awful.

WhatsAppening · 08/10/2021 08:50

I’ve lost nearly two stone since going after furlough as well, without dieting or any effort.

20k + steps a day will do that.

marykitty · 08/10/2021 08:51

If you stand still I agree can be painful

But I worked 6 years+ in a job where i had to walk the whole time (45 hours/week) and I loved it, i felt fit and active. But I did ditch the nice shoes and buy boring but comfortable ones fitting my needs. During breaks I was elevating slightly my feet above hip level (we had a chaise longe in the coffee corner).
I then moved to and office job and now I sit on my ass the whole day....and I feel like a lazy unfit old gal

Canii · 08/10/2021 08:54

I find that I feel a lot healthier when I have jobs where I’m on my feet all day. Get some good trainers and you will be fine. No aches or pains at all.
It’s definitely not good for you to be sitting for 8 hours!! Now that just makes me ache and gives me migraines.

canigooutyet · 08/10/2021 08:57

As others have said you need a decent pair of supportive shoes. that have laces.
Work on your posture.
I found a couple of minutes of stretches daily also helped.
And check your wearing the right sized bra as an ill fitting one might be causing the upper body pain.

vivainsomnia · 08/10/2021 08:59

There's a difference between being in your feet for 6 hours and walking 6 hours. What job means you walk without any stop, for 6 hours?

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/10/2021 08:59

The worst thing, as a teacher of small children, is not the being on your feet all day it's constantly sitting on small chairs or bending down to talk to children and getting up again. A lot of Early Years teachers end up with back problems.

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/10/2021 09:00

@vivainsomnia

There's a difference between being in your feet for 6 hours and walking 6 hours. What job means you walk without any stop, for 6 hours?

Postman?

Crunchingleaf · 08/10/2021 09:37

Having had both jobs where I was on my feet all day and then being at a desk all day. Being on my feet all day definitely suited me best. Being at a desk has caused back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain at different times. Any pain from being on my feet all day was temporary until I was used to it. Sitting down all day feels so so wrong.

MintJulia · 08/10/2021 11:12

Shoes are so important that the Post Office used to provide suitable footwear. Get it right and you'll have a stronger back and better posture than many people.

Hobnobsandbroomstick · 08/10/2021 12:13

I've had jobs that involve being on my feet all day most of my life. I worked 12 and a half hour shifts for a few years, my feet would ache afterwards (I do have flat feet though). I found the following helpful for achy feet:
Comfy shoes!
Using a peppermint foot spray by the body shop and changing my socks and shoes halfway through shift.
Putting a water bottle in the fridge or freezer and then rolling my feet against it on the floor.
Running moisturiser in every evening and putting socks on to let it soak in.

I now have one which still involves a fair bit of walking, but also involves sitting for hours at a time and am starting to get aches and pains from it! I have to get up at least every hour, and find yoga is helpful. Our bodies are designed to be walking rather than sitting all day!

swapsicles · 08/10/2021 12:23

I've always worked on my feet, my current job involves no sitting but a fair bit of standing still which I feel isn't the best, would rather be walking.
Weirdly I went on holiday recently where I sat down a lot, my back was in bits, felt so much better being at work!

vivainsomnia · 08/10/2021 12:31

Postman?
Yes, that's the only I could think off.

vivainsomnia · 08/10/2021 12:32

Pressed too quickly. As a postman though, it shouldn't come as a surprise and doesn't seem unreasonable. They want fit people to apply for the job.

MereDintofPandiculation · 08/10/2021 12:34

Smart watches have alarms to tell you you've been sitting down for an hour and to get up and move around for a bit. They don't have alarms to say you've been on your feet for an hour and you need to sit down.

Fdksyihfd · 08/10/2021 12:36

I would have said it was healthier; I was far healthier when I was on my feet all day compared to now when I sit at a desk all day. I was in better shape for definite.
Decent shoes are important but I also wonder if there’s an issue with your posture or hips that are causing the pain.

MitheringMytryl · 08/10/2021 12:37

Invest in some proper shoes that will support you.

You don't say what your job is but if it involves lifting, bending, twisting etc then be very aware of your posture.

louisacat · 08/10/2021 12:39

I've always had a job where I'm on my feet and feel quite healthy. I had a job for a short period in the middle where I was sitting at a desk and felt so restless at the end of the day.

Flip

1 2 3 4