How to Help Your Pets When Returning to Work

The days of everyone working remotely are shifting. Even though COVID cases are climbing, many people are returning to their former work schedules and habits. Although some still choose to work remotely, many are opting to either split between the two or work fully at their workplace.

The days of everyone working remotely are shifting. Even though COVID cases are climbing, many people are returning to their former work schedules and habits. Although some still choose to work remotely, many are opting to either split between the two or work fully at their workplace.

I read a great article from Best Friends Animal Society on this. If you don’t know Best Friends, they’re the premier animal rescue organization in the country. They work with a growing number of animal shelters across the country to help them achieve the goal of becoming no-kill and provide resources and consulting as needed.

So how do you help our pets adjust to such a big change in their lives? Here are a few strategies to help them deal with separation anxiety: 1. Practice leaving briefly before you try a full day of work. Go to the mailbox and linger a bit. Or walk down the block, then come back. Or run a quick errand. Help your pet begin to get used to you being outside the house and away for a little while. 2. Pick up your keys, then put them down a few times a day. Grab your purse, then set it down again. 3. Play music while you’re gone. Studies have shown that many pets love classical music – it soothes them. Try playing that when you walk out of the house. These are just a few suggestions to try. You can read the entire article by clicking here. The thing to remember is this. Believe it or not, pets can suffer depression as much as humans can. We need to recognize this and take steps to help them avoid this. The more we can normalize our comings and goings versus our staying full-time at home, the easier it will be for our beloved 4-legged friends to acclimate and adjust. And that will make for happier times for everyone. Look for more helpful information about dealing with depression in my new book, You Aren’t Depression’s Victim, available now on Amazon.