Why the Love from Animals can Increase our Productivity
The seconds tick by into minutes, those minutes into hours. All the while, a blinking singular line taunts me. It does not move, it simply sits stagnant against a white screen. As those minutes descend into hours, the sheer frustration of that blinking black line consumes me. Despite my best efforts, I seem paralyzed to type a single letter; afraid that what is typed will simply not be good enough to publish. I walk away from the ever present blinking black line and spend some time outside with my dog, followed by a few shots of espresso to hopefully cause my mind to bypass the inhibitions that keep me paralyzed. As I walk back to the page that haunts me, I grab my laptop and move from the couch to my room where I lean slightly back in my chair, put on some earbuds and stare once again at the blank page in front of me. At this moment, my dog walks in and looks up at me; I look back at him as he walks towards my outstretched hand. I pet him as he turns towards me and looks into my eyes as he rests his head on my knee; I cannot help but smile at this loving gesture. He lays down at my feet and at long last, that blinking black line moves.
Traditionally, popular media has shown pets causing havoc whilst their humans attempt to work. It usually creates a comical situation that is unpredictable and quite humorous, however, it has also caused many to believe that pets are not conducive to productivity. Though this is undoubtedly true for some pets, there are many pets who can be quite conducive to the creative process as well as be companions and emotional support for their humans throughout the day. For many, pets can help suppress the loneliness that we are all prone to feel; furthermore, they oftentimes can bring out the best in us even when we don’t feel at our best. For me personally, my dog is a source of inspiration that motivates me even on my worst days.
While writing this very article, I experimented writing in different spaces to see how I would be affected. Normally, I can write at the kitchen table, patio table, and in my room. I can edit videos anywhere, yet I am best with photoshop at the kitchen table. For essays and other serious articles, I feel most at ease being somewhere with a table due to the immense number of essays that I wrote whilst in high school and college. In each of these instances, I primarily worked while seated at some sort of table or desk.
I first attempted to write at the kitchen table with my dog to the right of me and I felt motivated to write. I made progress on this article and a number of others, while my dog napped happily next to me. After a few hours, I left the kitchen table and began to work in my room. I sat down to work and saw that my dog did not follow; what transpired in the following hours was truly a disaster. For well over four hours I moved from my bed to my office chair and could not find the motivation to write. I stared at the page and seemed powerless to write anything worthwhile; the few paltry words I did write were quickly deleted. I felt powerless to finish the articles I was working on; therefore I closed my laptop. After a few hours, I returned to my room to work, but this time my dog came with me and laid directly on my feet. At this point, I looked down at him and instantly felt inspired to begin writing. The drastic change in my mood and productivity was quite drastic, I quickly made progress despite the fact I was far more tired than I was earlier in the day. Though other factors were at play such as if I was hungry, level of hydration, etc., the greatest tell of whether or not I would be able to write was whether or not my dog was with me.
Pets can be an effective way to increase productive output for a simple reason, we all have moments of self doubt when we question whether our work is good enough. Whether that is an article for Medium or a report for a Fortune 500 company, self doubt can always creep in and paralyze us; pets often give us the love and adoration that helps us get through the lowest points in our days. They are the constant that we often need in order to function at our best. Additionally, they will often give us a moment of reprieve due to something adorable or hilarious that they do. As for dogs, they will often ask to go outside on a walk or to play. These small breaks can help improve our moods, give us a moment to step away from a problem, and it is simply a great time to bond with our dogs.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a great number of people now work from home, and have had to change their habits to meet this method of working. Work can oftentimes be stressful, monotonous, and tedious; however, pets can give the additional flare to our lives that helps make those stressful times worthwhile. Loving a pet and caring for them on a daily basis is a rewarding experience akin to raising a child; these experiences inevitably have their moments of frustration, but the joy that pets bring is far greater. If you currently do not have an animal companion, there are many wonderful animals in need of a loving home at a shelter in your local area. These animals are a lifelong commitment, they will depend on you to protect them, love them, and take care of their every need. There are a variety of online resources to help you decide which pet is best for you, as well as information on how to ensure they live the best lives possible. For dogs, the American Kennel Club’s website (akc.org) will have a variety of information and resources to help you train your dog as well as advice to help ensure your animal can live a full and happy life.
