Last Friday, June 21st, was National Bring Your Dog to Work Day. While it is not feasible to bring my dogs to work at my current company, I've had the pleasure of doing so at some of my previous companies. Seeing posts celebrating this day reminded me of a photo that will always have a special place in my heart, and I felt inspired to share with others.
The two wonderful collies helping me work that day were Mr. Ace and Miss Lassie, whom I adopted through the Minnesota Wisconsin Collie Rescue and sadly are no longer with us. Working closely with this organization has been incredibly rewarding.
Though pets, like kids, can sometimes be a handful, their presence overall provides a much-needed distraction from the daily stresses of work and a never-ending to-do list. Breathing exercises can be great for managing stress, but having your furry friends around is even better.
With COVID-19, many people got to experience the companionship of their pets while working remotely. It became commonplace to see (or hear) our pets in the background during virtual meetings and a fun topic of conversation. I recall taking a virtual course where everyone stayed on during a break just to ask the facilitator a bunch of questions about their dog who was seen in the background throughout the session – what's his name, what breed, what was he wearing, where did you get his outfit? Pets can bring us together in a time where there is so much separation.
Currently I work under a hybrid arrangement, so I am fortunate to be able to work from home a couple of days a week with my current office mates – Sadie, Ani, and Filly, Although they can make the day interesting at times (as I was writing this I was remembering when Filly was a puppy, and I would look out to see her running around the yard with my pen, my notepad, newly laid sod or something else she shouldn’t have), they also bring joy and a sense of calm to my day.
How do your pets help you manage stress? Share your experiences and pictures of your furry office mates!
#NationalBringYourDogToWorkDay #StressRelief #HybridWork #DogLovers #PetTherapy #CollieRescue
Love Bruce! 🐾