Increasing Work Productivity at Home

Working from home when you have a pet is an absolute joy, but they can also be one of the biggest obstacle that keeps you from getting your work done.

Dog owners all over the world has since laughed together over how they have learned to work in uncomfortable positions so their dog can be comfortable, and have also learned to type an entire document with one hand so they can keep their dog satisfied with an indoor game of fetch or a session of belly scratch.

While a few more businesses are allowed to resume operation in the second phase of Singapore's circuit breaker, there seems to be no foreseeable changes with the current work-rom-ome arrangements. Furthermore, you can't be giving in to your doggo all the time, as much as you'd like to. If you can't blame your loyal canine friend for your missing homework decades ago, it's safe to say you can't place the blame on them now for missed deadlines. Here are a few ideas to keep your pup busy so you can concentrate on your work.

5 WAYS TO KEEP THE PEACE AT HOME

1. Create a separate, pup-free space

Designate a room that is strictly for work. You can choose to close the door, or draw out a physical boundary to indicate that the work space is out of bounds to your dog. This can help you focus on your work tasks, and prevent any distractions when you have to take that important work call. Remember not to cave in to their whines for attention-giving in will only encourage the behaviour and possibly create separation anxiety.

2. Schedule designated play time

Ignoring your dog the whole day while you are at home can send a negative message to your fur friend and stress them out. In addition, taking breaks from the screen is beneficial to your health. Schedule about 30 minutes before and after your work hours to take your dog out for a walk, then a few minutes out from your lunch break for a quick game. Providing a routine for your dog can stop interruptions to your work, and they will be a great reminder to keep a work-ife balance.

3. Keep the curtains drawn

Some doggos can be very vocal when they get excited. If your pup is one who enjoys reporting every single event that happens outside your apartment, you might want to draw those curtains or blinds to keep them calm and quiet so they don't ‘talk’ over everyone during your conference call meeting.

4. Treasure hunt

Mental stimulation is as important as physical stimulation for dogs. Mental exercises can tire your dog out and prevents them from begging for your attention while you're trying to complete that important work task, or worse, destroy your shoes or furniture.

A game of treasure hunt set up for your dog will appeal to their natural instincts of hunting for food. Put treats or kibbles in dog toys and hide them in places for your dog to find. Make sure those spaces are within reach of your dog, and switch these places every time. This will train your dog's hunting senses and exercise their brains.

5. Switch out toys

It is ideal to have a collection of about 8 to 10 toys for your canine companion, but don't make all of them accessible at a time! Have only 4 or 5 toys out, then rotate them weekly with the other set of toys. This will keep your dog interested in the toys. Make sure there is a variety of different types of toys in each set so your dog has something to play with regardless of the mood he or she is in. To spice things up, you can hide these toys in places your dog is likely to find. Remember to replace toys that have fallen apart! Check out our wide range of dog toys here!