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The pandemic has thrown many of our daily schedules out of the window- that much isn’t a secret. Whereas before, the hustle and bustle of life may have seemed mundane, it’s easy for everything to feel much more overwhelming this time around as we slowly creep back towards total normalcy. One particularly jarring aspect that many of us have been encountering is re-learning how to handle that delicate balance between our home lives and our work lives. Managing your family’s finances has never been an easy task, and recent days are no exception.
After a year of comfortably working from home in the presence of our pets and furry friends, it can be hard to say goodbye again on the eve of resuming that nine-to-five grind outside the house.
This isn’t to say that it’s an impossible task- quite the opposite. There are a few things you can do to make sure that your pooches and pets don’t bear the brunt of the return to regular life.
Don’t make unnecessary trips where you don’t need to
If you find yourself regularly forgetting necessities at the grocery store (dog food, human food, you name it) consider checking out online delivery services. Not only is it much easier to receive a fresh dog food delivery right to your home than to drive to the supermarket, it can also sometimes net you some online-exclusive bargains.
Image from Artem Beliaikin on Pexels
Check out your local groups
If you don’t have time to walk your dog as often as you’d like, and also don’t feel like splashing out for a reputable dog walker, you may be missing out on the perfect offer- free, local dog walkers. There are many groups out there, full of volunteers willing to walk your dog for free.
It may sound too good to be true, but it’s a reality. Many of these volunteers love dogs but can’t have one for a number of reasons. Therefore, they’re keen to take the opportunity to hang out with a dog for free!
Local Facebook and social media groups tend to be hotspots for these sorts of services- not to mention university associated societies full of students hoping to get the chance to interact with local pets.
Don’t freak out
As the world radically changes for the second time, it may be touted as a return to the status quo. However, in reality, this is just as, if not, more jarring than the first change. As these various responsibilities and commitments rear their heads after a year spent dormant, it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed.
The best thing you can do about it is take some time to relax, and remember that you’ve been here before. It may take some relearning, but the entire world is in the same boat. Both you and your furry friend will come out of this alright- even if your dog may miss the days you spent indoors with them.
