Virtually all industries now have avenues for workers to work remotely.

Whatever industry you’re in, there’s bound to be some work-from-home opportunities for you to tap into.

You must already be aware of the many benefits that come with choosing this route.

Basically, you’ll be able to work at your pace, set your own rules, spend less time commuting, incur lesser expenses, and probably get more productive with your life.

However, need I remind you that with remote work situations come a few challenges, too? One of those is “dealing with a pet that wouldn’t let you rest or focus on the task at hand.”

If you encounter such a situation, what steps will you take to prevent it from hindering your productivity?

Continue reading to learn more!

Distract Your Pet With Something To Play With

Ever heard the saying, “A bored dog is a mischievous dog,” before?

For somebody working from home, mischief can come in the form of chewed cables, video conference intrusion, workspace mess-up, noise distraction, or paper/document damage.

I know you don’t want any of that.

Luckily for you, almost all pets enjoy playing.

If you give little Matty something to play with, he won’t come to paw at your feet when you’re on a video call.

Don’t know what to distract your pet with? Feel free to use ropes, bones, toys, or anything else you think your pet likes to play with!

Set Playtime

To begin with, if you know you can’t make time for your pet, then you shouldn’t get one at all.

Pets will demand playtime, as it’s the only way to release pent-up energy. If you deny them the opportunity to go out and play, they’ll come and disturb you wherever you are.

You can’t let that happen, I’m sure, with all the things you have to do.

Therefore, you need to have a designated ‘playtime.’ This can be specific times in the day where you get to feed them, exercise them, walk them, and bond with them.

Separate Your Workspace

You’ll be making a terrible mistake if you think you can always chase your pet away from a readily accessible workspace.

The best way to ensure neither your pets nor anyone else in the house interrupts your work session is to create a dedicated workspace separated from the rest of the house.

This can be a separate room, a demarcated corner in your corridor, or a secluded space in the house.

By and large, any area you’re choosing should not only be inaccessible to your pets, but it should also boast soundproof features to prevent unwanted barking and growling.

Keep Workspace Sounds To A Minimum

Another reason why you need a soundproofed workspace area is so that you can prevent work noises from getting out. Telephone ringtones, desktop beeps, gadget vibrations, and other forms of noise can sometimes make your pet nervous.

When this happens, your pet might go berserk on you and respond with a never-ending barking or growling cycle.

As much as you want to keep them away from your work area, you also don’t want to be the reason they go crazy when speaking to a colleague on the phone.

Please ensure you have all the necessary workspace accessories in place before allowing pets into your work area.

It’s not uncommon to see pet owners wanting to have their pets close to them while working. This is most common with owners of kitties and dogs like Mini F1 Goldendoodles (those breeds are too adorable to ignore).

If you’re one such person, feel free to bring your kitty or pup into your work area.

However, before you do, ensure you’ve gotten all the necessary workspace accessories to protect your gadgets and documents.

For example, accessories like hard keyboard covers ensure that pet paws don’t damage the keyboard and pet hairs don’t creep into keyboard crevices.

Ensure Your Pet Is Healthy At All Times

Caring for a sick pet is just the same as caring for a sick child.

Can you imagine yourself focusing 100% on your work when you have a kid in the room lying in pain?

Definitely not!

In the same vein, if you have a pup or a kitty that’s suffering from one disease or another, it can be hard staying focused on your job.

Therefore, you need to stay up-to-date on your pet’s vaccinations and vet checkups.

Even if he’s showing no signs of falling sick, you should still visit the vet occasionally.