Working from Home — Fur Edition
Working From Home with Pets: An Expert’s Guide to Making the Most of It
For the foreseeable future, we’re going to be spending a lot more time in close quarters with our beloved dogs and cats. And that’s good news for pet parents—even in these stressful times. Rover surveyed pet parents who are now working from home because of the coronavirus outbreak and discovered that:
- 54% said they feel less anxious because they have their pet with them.
- Two-thirds said they feel happier working from home because they have the company of their pet.
- The majority of pet parents (70%) said working from home helps them get more exercise by walking or playing with their pet.
- The majority (86%) of pet parents said spending time with their pets helps alleviate stress from today’s news topics like the coronavirus, economy, and politics.
- Pet parents are most likely to turn to their pets to reduce or relieve stress from news of current events. 40% say they turn to their dog or cat, compared to a significant other (23%) or family member (13%). www.rover.com/...
How Pets Are Taking Their Thrones as the Stars of the Work-From-Home Paradigm Right Now
For those privileged enough to be able to work from home, there are still inconveniences with the new arrangement: social isolation, lack of access to free office coffee, difficulty making meetings work remotely.
But it’s also introduced plenty of positives: judgment-free fashion choices, cutting the commute down to the distance between bed and desk and — for some — lots more quality time with animal companions, an unexpected upside that is helping to warm the internet’s cold, anxious heart this week. time.com/...
Working from home with pets
Working from home with pets around is one of the perks of logging in at your kitchen table, along with being dressed in head-to-toe fleece. For an increasing number of workers, the option and opportunity is there to spend at least a portion of the work getting stuff done in the comfort of their home. nutrisourcepetfoods.com/...
Pets can shape your routine
One thing people who are new to telecommuting need to get used to is finding the new normal. That is, they need to find their daily rhythm that helps them slip into the right mindset to start the work day.
Since dogs and cats are creatures of habit, you can build your new WFH routine around your pets. They may also make you more productive. If a cat is curled up, snoozing on your lap, that will keep you in your chair, working a bit longer, right?
nutrisourcepetfoods.com/...
Pets reduce your stress
The presence of pets is also a natural stress reducer.
When work gets aggravating and the deadlines get tight, just take 45 seconds or so and scratch behind the ears of your pet.
It won’t solve the fact that you have to turn around a big project in a short time, but petting your dog lowers your blood pressure, slows your breathing and alleviates anxiety.
When your brain gets the message that everything is OK, you can enter a state of mind that’s more conducive to finding solutions and being productive.
The presence of pets can also make you feel less lonely, if you’re working solo in the home office. nutrisourcepetfoods.com/…
Though written for cats, I think this applies to most dogs, too—
How to keep your [pet] from interrupting you all day
- Tire your [pet] out early. Engage in some preventative measures by setting up exercise and activities ... BEFORE you need to work. A few minutes of playtime with a feather wand [or playing catch] followed by some treats in a food puzzle are a great way to get your kitty [or doggy] to settle down for a nap. A tired [pet] is a happy [pet] who is hopefully not climbing all over you while you work.
- Take breaks for snuggles. We all need to take work breaks to stretch and clear our minds. That’s a great time to give your [furry friend] some pets or more playtime.
- Provide distractions during important calls. Automated toys, food puzzles, a cardboard box with some tissue paper and treats inside to explore can all give your cat something to do. Even something as simple as moving a chair or cat condo to a new window can capture your [pet’s] interest for a few important minutes!
- Give your [pet] a better place to hang out than your keyboard. For example, put a heated bed on a chair near your desk (or even on your desk if you have the room) to give your cat a highly desirable place to lay instead of on you. A cleared off shelf with a cat blanket on it can give your cat a “perch of judgment” from which they can watch you work! [The dogs have lots of large pillows to lay on throughout the house.]
- Don’t reward behavior you don’t want to continue….
- Close the door…but be ready for protest. … www.rover.com/…