Sep 9, 201201:30 PMInfluence Positively
Sharon Castellanos, Editor-at-Large
Working from home with Cleo: Benefit or Distraction?
© Sharon Castellanos
Working from home with Cleo: Benefit or Distraction?
It wasn't that long ago when I used to roll out of bed and head downtown to work each weekday. It was a couple of years after we adopted our dog that I began working from home. Cleo is a big shepherd-husky blend with an equally big personality. If I had brought her into my downtown office during 'Take Your Dog To Work Day', she would have brought everyone's work to a halt, not just mine. She has this way of making you want to spend time with her. She injects joy into the mundane. She looks up from whatever she is doing to smile at you when you walk by. If she had walked into your office, I doubt any of you could have denied her some love, and attention.
At home, I don't have to share her with co-workers. She does not get to play musical beds in other people's offices or cubicles. There is no forgotten birthday cake waiting to be snarfed from someone's trash bin under their desk. Her treat cupboard is managed by me and she knows it. The benefit of working from home with Cleo is that when you spend time with her, it isn't just play. She should be part of my health plan. I'm taking a healthy break when I step away from my desk to spend a few minutes with her. She isn't a distraction from work. It's as if time with her includes an important life lesson. She is imparting profound knowledge. I know Cleo is not trying to get me to play hooky.
Cleo can inspire some great writing topics. Rather than being a distraction, having her nearby is a benefit when I'm struggling. She is my canine thesaurus. When I take a break to brush her double coat, my blood pressure lowers. I get a dose of calming oxytocin. Those ten minutes away from my writing, seem to produce a mound of fur, and a pile of great ideas.
When we take an afternoon break, and head outdoors for a walk, I am ready for the gawking. Strangers alike seem to find Cleo something to behold. The curious will stare, but it is usually the very young who often have the courage to ask if they can pet her. It makes me happy to have people drawn to her. She is such a wonderful ambassador for adoption of adult dogs. She seems to inspire others, not just me.
I imagine if I was back in that cubicle I might get more work done, but I wouldn't have this wonderful chance to see so much of the world through her eyes. She adds a warmth, a sense of purpose and a special dimension to my workday that would be absent unless I worked at one of the few firms allowing dogs in the office. I admit it can sometimes be a challenge to stay focused, but I'm up for it. Fortunately, my current work space is larger than a cubicle so Cleo has her own area and distance away from my desk. She can stop by and visit me, or tell me I have a package waiting outside. She can remind me when the clock says "walk," or announce when it's quitting time.
There may be a few challenges to working from home with my furry best friend, but the benefits far and away outweigh them.
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