How Animals Help with Work-life Balance During the Pandemic

Achieving work-life balance during the pandemic is easier said than done. Luckily, our dogs and other pets can be incredibly supportive throughout these trying times.
Below, we’ll dive into some of the many ways animals can help with work-life balance during the pandemic.
Daily Exercise
With the advent of remote work, it can be difficult to find a reason to venture outdoors. Luckily, Fido is quick to remind you when you need a breath of fresh air. A simple walk can work wonders for stress management, which is essential throughout a busy workweek.
Dog owners are also more likely to meet their daily exercise quotas than non-pet owners. Regular exercise helps you lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and improves your quality of life. Your pooch can be the push you need to get moving in between Zoom meetings.
Social Butterflies
While you still have to maintain a proper distance, having an animal at home can help you get your daily dose of social interaction with the outside world. Every dog owner knows that having a cute pooch automatically makes you the most popular person in the neighborhood. On your daily strolls with Spot, you’re likely to see others admiring from afar giving you something easy to talk about.
Our dogs are amazing social butterflies that can, in turn, help us to become more socially connected to our neighborhood. Even if it’s just a friendly wave at the dog park, small interactions between other pet lovers can really add up over time.
Giving Your Day Structure
One of the most challenging aspects of the pandemic is the lack of structure; we’re all tasked with working, sleeping, and relaxing in the same space, which is much easier said than done. This lack of structure can make it difficult to stay productive or motivated, especially when it comes to the workweek.
Fortunately, Fido’s needs stay the same during these trying times. Our animals still need to have their meals, enjoy playtime, and go for walks at relatively the same time every day. While this isn’t always the easiest thing to balance, the sense of structure is exactly what we need to achieve work-life balance during the pandemic. We ought to thank our furry friends for keeping us motivated.
Provide Companionship
Work-life balance can be incredibly hard to achieve in the age of COVID-19 since there isn’t a hard stop to your workday. Though working from home poses numerous benefits, it can make it all the more difficult when it comes to finding time to unwind.
Our four-footers provide endless companionship, giving us the license to kick back and relax with our caring canines. They can also offer hours of indoor entertainment when you’ve exhausted your nightly Netflix binge— you can use the extra time at home to teach Fido a new trick or work in an extra game of fetch, further solidifying your bond.
Dogs and other pets can also understand our need for companionship unlike any other. If you’ve had a tough day at work, your pooch is right by your side, ready to offer lots of sloppy puppy kisses. Living through these difficult times is challenging for everyone, but having a loving best buddy on your team can help you stay focused and grounded.
Reconnect With Your Furry Friend
While these are hard times for humans, it may feel like an absolute field day to Fido. After all, your dog’s human best friend is home more often, what’s not to love? Work-life balance during the pandemic can be incredibly difficult to achieve, however, it’s a lot easier to manage when you have a wagging tail waiting for you when you finish.
Take this time to reconnect with your furry friend and truly appreciate all the love and companionship they bring to your life.