The best part of working from home is spending time with my furry co-workers. When they huddle under the desk or bring me a ball to play fetch, it takes the edge of any frustrating work tasks…like figuring out WordPress. That being said working from home with pets does present some challenges.
Here are my key strategies to stay productive when working from home with pets.
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Squeeze in a Morning Workout
Our dogs have a ton of energy right after they wake up and eat. They are eager for attention and need to burn off energy before settling down.
Before the workday starts, I try to squeeze in a workout with our furry friends. A morning walk, a game of fetch, or laser chase with your cat are great options. Get them good and tired. 20-30 minutes of play will really pay off throughout the day. Needless to say, a morning walk is good for my productivity too.
De-Fur your Keyboard
One of the most embarrassing moments of my life was at the Apple store when they pulled the back off my laptop to replace the battery and there was a solid layer of dog hair underneath the back panel. Since then I have been hyper-focused on computer hygiene.
To de-fur my keyboard I use a few products. Canned air is great if you can find it. There are also mini-vacuums that work well. I know it’s tempting to break out the Dyson on your keyboard, but you can actually do some damage. Stick with the mini versions.
I also use this yellow goo called cyber clean. (This is not an affiliate link). It gets out all the gross bits hiding around the keys. It also reminds me of the slime I got from the quarter machines at the grocery store as a kid, so there is a happiness factor too.
I use clean paintbrushes to get out anything lodged or stuck under the keys.
To prevent future dog hair from getting in the keyboard you can purchase a silicone keyboard protector, but personally, they kind of throw me off when I’m typing. I purchased a couple but they have been retired to the junk drawer.
Photo by Andy Orin on Unsplash
Bark-Free Conference Call
The conference call can be a tricky part of working from home with pets. Before everyone got into video conferencing I was all about sitting on the floor of our bedroom closet and taking client calls. That doesn’t quite work when you need to use the video feature. Here is my four-step approach to a bark-free video conference call.
- Complete a Bark-test. Try out different rooms to figure out where you can station your pups and hear the least amount of barking at your desk.
- Once you have identified the ideal spot for them create a calm zone in this area. Try to minimize anything that can inspire barking. Are they able to see or hear the FedEx truck? Do you have curtains or window film you can use to block their sight? You can even put a do not disturb sign on the front door to avoid doorbells or knocking. A white noise machine can prevent them from hearing outside noises too.
- My cat likes to knock off items on the dresser when she wants attention, so we make sure everything is secured or put away in this space. No one needs a vase crashing down during a call with your boss.
- Before the call be prepared with frozen kongs, toys that dispense treats or games that can keep them engaged. If you have more than one dog, be mindful of food aggression.
Put the Pets to work
In order to stay productive, I need to minimize the interruptions (or pawses) from my furry co-workers. I try to set boundaries so I don’t react to all of their cuddly requests but it helps to give them a little work of their own. While we run off some of their physical energy in the morning their brains need a workout too. You can do this with them by scheduling break time to play tug, hide the treat, or a quick training session. They can also get some work done on their own with puzzles, snuffle mat or an interactive toy.
Squeeze in Cuddle Time
Let your pups remind you that it’s good to take small breaks and stand-up throughout the day. A quick afternoon walk or step outside can be refreshing and help avoid that afternoon slump. You will be more productive when you are back at your desk.
Sometimes I get so caught up in being hyper-productive that I feel a little guilty when I take a minute to fill up a water bowl or throw a ball for a few minutes, but often these are the moments when a breakthrough or new idea pops into my head.
You can be productive AND enjoy your workday with your paw-some co-worker.
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