Pets: The Unsung Heroes of the Remote Work Era

Having spent most of my adult life in a professional office setting, I had some anxiety about making the switch to working from home. Working remotely can present a unique set of challenges at times, but fortunately, I’ve come to find it also presents a unique set of rewards. Winter storm warning? No need to shovel out a driveway. Forgot to wash your dress pants? Thank goodness for Zoom. Perhaps the greatest joy I’ve found in working from home has been my office staff. And by office staff, I of course mean my beloved pet and fluffiest secretary, Mr. Biffles.

True, despite having thumbs- two on each paw, actually- he can’t help me with paperwork, or take a call if I need to step away. The benefits of having my faithful companion by my side throughout the work day take a different shape.A well-timed meow during a stressful call is a source of instant stress relief, and help keep that smile on my face that we all know clients can hear over the phone. A couple paws on my leg when I’m feeling like my to-do list is running out the clock are all it takes to remind me to breathe. A curled up kitten at my feet, which I can reach down and pet at any point during my day, is more effective than any stress ball on the market.

Bear in mind, these are not just the rantings of an aspiring crazy cat lady. The psychiatric benefits of pet ownership have been studied and proven time and time again. Lowered stress is almost always at the top of the list for any article you’ll find on the subject. Decreased anxiety and an increased sense of calm are often mentioned as well. For our more scientifically-compelled readers, studies have even shown that just ten minutes with a therapy pet resulted in lower levels of cortisol, our body’s natural panic button, for hours following the encounter.

If just ten minutes with a therapy pet can produce results that can be measured and documented by the scientific community, it’s no wonder that so many remote workers have also come forward to vocalize the benefits they’ve discovered of our new normal.The added time in a shared space ultimately results in less stress for both our pets, who aren’t left wondering when we’ll return, and by pet owners, who don’t have to wonder what their pet might be up to in their absence. The passion we have for our jobs alone would be enough to make VetReceptionists.com the perfect companions to any practice. Add in the extra benefits of working with our pets, while we help others with theirs, and the recipe for success could hardly be more purrrfect.