u/Bella_Tan16

To simply put: shoes can act as a context cue. If you normally take your shoes off when you're relaxing at home, keeping them on can make you brain feel like you're still in “doing stuff” mode rather than “couch mode.”
It’s kind of like changing into work clothes (except I don’t work).. Let alone, this works for people who study in completely different spots. You can move from one place to another without any hassle. Balcony, the kitchen, wherever. There’s something incommunicable about the feeling of being dressed all the way through. So it can be fairly useful than being completely barefoot.
So ya, as long as your shoes remain intact on your feet, it also remains a psychological trick: shoes = day isn't over yet.

Yes, u read that right lol

And no, it's not anything inappropriate or sexual. We literally just talk. They tell me about their day, work, random stuff that happened, or sometimes they just want someone to talk to and a listener.

I honestly thought it was kind of weird when I first heard about it, but then I realized I'm getting paid ₱500 just for having a normal conversation with someone lol. Not the weirdest side hustle I've come across, I guess.