A lot of people love the idea of working from home and why wouldn’t you? You get to work to your own schedule as well as stay in your pyjamas all day. Sounds like a dream! And in my opinion, it is.
I absolutely love working from home and having the benefit of snuggling up on the couch with a cup of coffee to do my work.
However, one thing about working from home is that it can be quite isolating and while some people love this, others might not like it as much.
This is where pets can be a major asset to your at home workspace. In this blog, I am going to cover 5 reasons why having your pets at work is the absolute best.
- Working with pets reduces stress and the feeling of isolation
- Working from home with pets can help improve mental health
- Pets at work encourage you to take breaks
- Your pet will be happier having company
- Having pets and working from home means you don’t have to pay for an animal sitter or worry about them being at home alone
1. Working with pets reduces stress and the feeling of isolation
Working from home with pets is a great way to help cope with stress and reduce the feeling of being lonely.
Studies have shown that pets are great at helping us relieve stress and lower blood pressure. (source). This is great when you are starting to feel a bit overwhelmed as your companion will be there to help calm you. Even just patting a pet can help reduce cortisol levels which is the bodies main stress hormone.
They also are great at reducing loneliness as well as boosting your mood. Working from home can sometimes feel a bit lonely but a pet is a great way to increase socialisation and reduce the feeling of isolation.
Not only that but pets are great listeners, people quite often confide in their little buddy when they are feeling stressed or lonely, and they are happy to help! Pets unconditional love provides support and comfort during these times and these attributes are what make them such good company when you work from home.
2. Working from home with pets can help improve mental health
Looking after an animal can provide a feeling of purpose and self-worth. Studies have shown that looking after an animal can help reduce depression and anxiety (source). For some people, working from home can feel quite lonely and pets are a great way to help reduce the feeling of isolation and therefore improve mental health.
Pets can also increase happiness by causing the release of endorphins, also known as happy hormones. These happy hormones are a natural antidepressant and help you stay mentally healthy. It has also been shown that having a pet releases hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin which are also beneficial when it comes to mental health (source).
3. Pets at work encourage you to take breaks
While working it is important to take regular breaks. Getting up regularly and moving helps increase blood flow. It also increases focus and productivity when you start working again.
Pets are a great reminder and encourage you to take those breaks. Playing with your pet or even just feeding your pet is a great way to take your mind off work for a bit. Breaks such as taking your dog for a walk is also a great way to do a bit of physical activity and get outdoors and into nature which is a great way to refresh your brain.
These breaks are important as they help prevent you from feeling over worked or becoming stressed.
4.Your pet will be happier having company
Not only is it super nice to have your furry friend keeping you company while you work, but they also enjoy the company too. Being around your pet more often allows you to set in place clear rules and increases your bond with your furry friend.
Animals like dogs instinctively live in packs so it’s only natural that they would prefer being with you then alone, right? It’s a win, win situation.
5. Having pets and working from home means you don’t have to pay for an animal sitter or worry about them being at home alone
You already work from home so why not make the most out of being able to care for your furry friend? Working from home limits the fear that your pet will get up to mischief when you’re not home or even worse, something happening to them.
Being at home also minimises the chance of your pet acting out due to fear or boredom. They feel way safer when your home.
You can also make the most out of not having to hire a pet sitter for when you’re at work as you can easily look after your pet.
To Sum up
Working from home with pets is a great idea as it reduces stress and isolation, improves mental health, and encourages regular breaks. Not only that but your pet will be happier having the company and you don’t have to worry about them being home alone.