I spent a summer working retail, eight hours a day on concrete. By closing time my feet were so puffy I could not get my shoes back on without a fight. Swollen feet after a long day are common, and they do not mean something is wrong with you. They mean gravity won.

Here is what actually helps, in order of how fast it works.

Put Your Feet Up, Literally

Gravity pools fluid in your feet all day. Reverse it. Lie down and prop your feet above your heart for 15 to 20 minutes. A couple of pillows under your ankles works. You will literally watch the puffiness go down. This is the single most effective trick, and it costs nothing.

Move the Fluid With Your Muscles

Your calf muscles act as pumps for your veins. Do ankle circles and point-and-flex exercises for a few minutes. Wiggle your toes. If you have been standing still all day, the fluid has had no help moving back up. Ten ankle pumps can make a visible difference.

Cool Water, Not Ice

Soak your feet in cool water, not icy water, for 10 minutes. Ice is for injuries and can be uncomfortable on tired feet. Cool water tightens the blood vessels and reduces puffiness. A shallow basin in front of the couch works fine.

Compression Socks Help Long Before You Feel It

The best fix is prevention. Compression socks worn during the day keep fluid from pooling in the first place. I thought they were for old folks until a nurse recommended them for my retail shifts. Now I swear by the lightest compression level for long days.

Watch the Salt at Lunch

Salt holds water in your tissues. On days when you know you will be on your feet, go easy on the salty snacks. A sandwich with a bag of chips makes the evening puffiness worse, and I have tested this theory many times.

If one foot swells and the other does not, or the swelling comes with pain and shortness of breath, see a doctor. But for plain tired feet, twenty minutes with them up fixes most of it.