Learnings Inspired by Our Canine Companion

This weeks blogs is inspired by our new family member Zorro, an 8 month old Springer Spaniel. Now I know our usual blogs are health focused and you may be wondering about how a blog about a dog is relevant, but please bear with me!

In the midst of another lockdown, it is easy for the days and weeks to pass by and you may be asking yourself “where did the time go?!” “And what was I actually doing?!” Which is why I wanted to share something a little different today, in the hope that if you are feeling a little de-motivated, that this may provide some lighthearted reading and inspiration.

Zorro joined us two weeks ago and it certainly has been an eye opener, and also a really good reminder about some things when it comes to the way we live.

So here are some of my key take homes….

1. Routine – when Zorro first joined us, he was extremely nervous as moving from a kennel environment to a house was understandably very different and unsettling. In just the short time we have had him, he has come on in leaps and bounds, but one of the things that has helped him the most is having a routine. Simple things like similar times each day when he exercises, eats, and ‘goes to bed’, have helped him calm and gain confidence.

When it comes to human behaviour, it isn’t much different! With the current lockdown many of you will likely be working from home, home schooling, or just doing things differently to how you would do normally because your regular activities are not currently on. This can be unsettling because we get out of our usual routine and may end up coasting our way through the day which can create a feeling of overwhelm, frustration and anxiety. So, my top tip is to try your best to keep some form of routine. It may be slightly different to what you would normally do, but set yourself times for when you go to bed, get up, eat, exercise etc. This will help you to keep on track with your health, and also help you feel more settled and in control at a time when there is a lot of external factors out of our control.

2. Connection – It has been amazing to see Zorro’s confidence and trust build with Tom and I over the last week and he is slowly getting more comfortable being around strangers and other dogs. At first Zorro would run away or simply freeze on the spot when he saw another dog approach him, but now he is more curious, and although he is not yet fully confident, encouraging him and putting him into situations where he meets other people and dogs helps him to grow and learn. And like Zorro, we humans need that connection too. With the current restrictions, it can be easy for days to go by where we don’t see or speak to anyone, and this ends up becoming the ‘new norm’. But we are designed to be around other people, so don’t forget to push yourself to make that phone or video call to catch up with your friends and family, or arrange to meet someone locally to go for a walk. Connection is key when it comes to living a happy and healthy life.

3. Laugh, play and get outside – Watching Zorro play care free has been so fun to watch and be a part of. The simplest thing such as a towel on the floor can provide the biggest entertainment for him, and when a tennis ball gets in front of him outside it’s game on! Whatever the weather; rain, snow, sunshine, nothing phases him. If there is an opportunity to be outside, run around and get muddy he is in his element. Although Tom and I love being outdoors, when it is lashing down with rain and zero degrees outside it is certainly less appealing! But when you have a dog, staying inside isn’t an option. It has been a great reminder that despite the weather, being outside in the fresh air really does make you feel alive, and getting covered in mud and walking through puddles is great fun! Why not give it a go?! When it is raining and dark outside, don’t be afraid to lace up those boots, get some fresh air and see how energised you feel afterwards!

4. Take a breath and let it be – I like order in my life, I like things to have their rightful place, for the environment that I live and work in to be nice and tidy and to have structure in my days! But having a dog has flipped that upside down! The clean house has now been taken over by dog toys, paw prints and fur, and things certainly feel less organised! And similar to my first tip on routine, I’m sure many of you may be feeling the same with homeschooling and working from home taking over. You may have books everywhere, constant dishes to wash, and constant noise in your home to name a few. But sometimes the only thing we can do is let go and accept the current circumstances. Try and take a moment to find things you are grateful for, laugh at the chaos, and trust that things will get easier. I know it is sometimes easier said than done as our circumstances are all unique, but sometimes battling with things out of our control causes us to use precious energy and creates stress which has a negative impact on our health, and can steal the joy from our day. This point is one that I am constantly battling with, so if you struggle with it I am right there with you!

Well that’s it for this week. This is simple stuff I know, but often the simple things can get forgotten, but they are things that make the biggest impact when it comes to our health.

With love,
Sarah