Is it bad to walk around the house in bare feet all day?

More people working from home – and sacking off shoes – has resulted in an increase in people with painful foot conditions, such as plantar fasciitis and shin splints, presenting in foot health clinics, says Emma Mcconnachie, a podiatrist with the College of Podiatry. ‘Feet come in all shapes and sizes, and not everyone will use theirs in the same way, so while being barefoot works well for some people, others may find that having no support from footwear is an issue,’ she tells WH. ‘You may experience heel or knee pain, or swelling across the balls of your feet due to a lack of cushioning.’

Yep, in addition to making your soles scream, the wrong (or missing) footwear could migrate the ouch upwards to your back and knees. If you’re feeling the burn, commit to slipping on ‘indoor shoes’ (like outdoor shoes, but cleaner) in the morning. Mcconnachie recommends searching for something with good support, a shape that matches your toes’ natural placement and a thick, cushioned sole. For ongoing issues, search for a podiatrist at cop.org.uk to find out where you stand (sorry).