Dog’s Advice for Young Professionals

Introduction

Let’s talk about dogs. Numerous studies have come out over the years stating that dogs help lower stress and that pet owners live healthier and longer lives, but did you also know that when dogs aren’t scratching their butts, they are actually giving us great life lessons?

This all started when I graduated from college and was entering the professional field. I was, like most, terrified. College prepares you for whatever your trade is, but it doesn’t teach you about interoffice politics and all the other subtle things that most people just learn through time. After landing a job for a pet care company and working alongside numerous dogs (yes, actual dogs, they were allowed in the office), I found that dogs are not just there for petting and comfort. I began learning as much from the dogs as I was from my job, and you can too, you just need to know how to understand them.

In this story, I would like to introduce you to three spectacular dogs that have taught me the most: My overly energetic and innocent Yorkie Poodle, Spaghetti; my sensitive purebred Yorkie, Lamborghini, but he goes by Lambo, or sometimes asshole if we’re being honest; and the ever-persistent and nonchalant Goldendoodle, Zoey.

The stories retold here are based on true dogs. No names have been changed (but don’t worry, they have all been paid in treats).

Chapter 1: Wag Your Tail

Not every day is going to be amazing, you might hate your job, have a hard project you might not feel ready to handle, or you might not be clicking with your team. Whatever it is, just wag your tail.

People think dogs wag their tails only when they are happy, but this is a common misconception. It’s the same with smiling, sometimes we smile when we aren’t happy. Numerous articles, including a 2013 Forbes article titled “Why Faking A Smile is a Good Thing” confirmed what we have been telling ourselves our entire lives, that smiling, “Even if you are consciously faking it, can improve your mood and reduce stress.”

It’s called tricking your brain. NBC News reported that “A smile spurs a powerful chemical reaction in the brain that can make you feel happier.” Dr. Murray Grossan, an ENT-otolaryngologist, says that it has been shown “over and over again that depression weakens your immune system, while happiness on the other hand has been shown to boost our body’s resistance.”

After awkward work meetings, I usually go back to my cubicle, listen to upbeat music, and I will force myself to look back at the situation and smile and laugh (or giggle quietly so I don’t look like a weirdo to my cubicle mates). I laugh not only to release some tension but to tell myself it is ok to laugh because this moment is temporary and the stress of it will pass.

Besides laughing, one technique people use to unwind from an awkward or stressful work moment is the five challenge, similar to the 5-by-5 rule. If this won’t matter in five months, then don’t waste your energy and spend more than five minutes thinking about it. Luckily most of the things we stress about are small things that we can take a moment to reflect on what went wrong, how to improve, and then move on from. Easier said than done, I know, but smile and laugh anyways.

If faking it until you make it doesn’t work, try shaking your tail (bone) because who doesn’t feel better after dancing? According to Psychology Spot, “When we dance, our brain releases endorphins, hormones which can trigger neurotransmitters that create a feeling of comfort, relaxation, fun and power.”

*Sorry there were no dogs in this chapter. I promise they are coming up soon!

Chapter 2: Go For Walks

GetHealthyStayHealthy.com “Estimates that we’re sedentary (not physically active) for an average of 7.7 hours a day. What’s more, less than 20% of us have jobs that require physical activity, with many people spending more than half of the work day seated.”

If you’re in a profession where you’re at a desk most of the day (and according to PRNewswire, there’s an 86% chance that you are), it can cause real strain on your body. Research has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns such as obesity, increased blood pressure, high blood sugar etc.

Best advice? Every hour, if you can, take a walk. You don’t have to become a marathon walker, just stroll around the floor, or take the stairs if/when you can. Physical movement and a change of scenery can help clear your mind and reinvigorate your brain. This especially helps when you feel stuck on a project, because staring at it is not going to fix it. Take a moment to get away and come back with fresh eyes.

This especially applies after work. It’s common for people to go straight home after work and lounge on the couch as they binge watch TV or scroll through social media to relax. It’s even more common for people to only plan their outings for the weekends, making the other five days of the week boring and giving them nothing to look forward to. What people don’t realize is that this ‘only planning for the weekend’ can lead to exacerbated anxiety.

Studies are now showing people who make it a habit of only going from work to home on the weekdays are more likely to experience stress because they have nothing to distract themselves and are not being fulfilled in other facets of their life. It’s a common pitfall that when entering the professional field that we should completely and blindly dedicate ourselves to the job or internship that we miss out on all other facets of life. This is where work/life balance comes in, and essentially life/life balance. Make sure every facet of your life is being satisfied, especially the parts of your life that impact your happiness.

• Are you creative? Do a small art project on Wednesday night to get your artistic muscles flexing.
• Need social connection? Make your friends dinner midweek, or google social gatherings in your area. Thanks to the website/app MeetUp.com, I found out that where I live, there is a board game group that meets every Friday and a Volleyball for Singles group that meets in the summer.
• Need something educationally stimulating? Download a free brain teaser app or do a crossword puzzle. Go to a local trivia night.
• Want to feel closer to nature? Go for a walk, go to a nearby park, or start buying some tiny plants for your apartment to get your green thumb going.
• Need adventure? Try a new restaurant, visit a new store, or google nearby festivals or events.

Sprinkling events throughout the week not only gives you something to look forward to but can even improve your performance at work. Having a fun night can lead to you feeling recharged and it can give you energy to get through the rest of the week until your next adventure.

A good place to decide where to ‘go for a walk’ is to search for networking events in your area. Colleges usually set up a few of these events throughout the year and you can find this information on their LinkedIn page or their events calendar. Everyone can benefit from a networking event, even if you are not currently looking for a job (you will be eventually) or you already know what you want to do (you’re never really 100% sure). Networking events are the answer to the complaint, “The only way to get ahead is to know someone.” Now is your chance to know someone and get practice saying your elevator pitch before the real interviews.

Here are a few tips before going to a networking event:

• Of course dress up, you are still making a good first impression.
• Have extra copies of your resume.
• After the event, follow-up with recruiters you connected with on LinkedIn.
• If you really want to impress recruiters, have a business card. Are you lacking experience and wondering what to put on your business card? No worries. Make sure you have your name and information first and foremost. I don’t recommend putting your college or what your major is, they will see that on your resume and this helps your business card last longer (you won’t have to update it after graduation). Instead, express what you’re interested in. For example: Jane Doe/Marketing or Jane Doe Social Media Management/Graphic Design.

Chapter 3: Play, Fail and Have Fun

The closest thing I’ll ever get to owning a Lamborghini is my dog Lamborghini, or Lambo for short. This little guy, with silkier hair than mine, loves to play fetch. He’ll run until his little legs fall off…or until he runs into a chair leg. See, he is a purebred Yorkshire Terrier and he is incredibly sensitive. He will be so embarrassed that he ran into a chair, he will stop playing fetch. So usually when this happens, we pretend we didn’t see the incident. Every time we pretend we didn’t just see him run into a chair, he will continue playing. Go figure.

If you happen to make a mistake in front of others, like let’s say you mess up during a presentation, let humor help salvage the situation. According to Riskology.com, when you make a huge mistake — and others noticed it was a mistake — “don’t ignore it. Don’t try to cover it up. Don’t nervously apologize over and over, dwelling on it and making yourself look like a schmuck.” Riskology.com recommends to do the following four steps:

1. Acknowledge the mistake. There’s no hiding it now. Everyone saw!
2. Correct the mistake. If it’s necessary, make whatever correction you need to get things back on track.
3. Make fun of yourself. Get everyone laughing and they won’t care anymore.
4. Move on! And don’t bring up your flub again until you’re totally in the clear.

Need a reason to laugh at your mistakes? NBC News states that laughing is the key to better overall health and happiness. Who can argue with those benefits?

As we’ve seen on plenty of memes of dogs playing and falling, even when they fail, they are still having fun! So take a lesson from the dog memes, you’re not going to succeed at everything. We will fail, sometimes in minor ways, and sometimes but rarely in epic ways, but the thing about it is to, while yes take it seriously, don’t take it too seriously that you beat yourself up. Don’t be Lambo. Take every fail with a grain of salt and learn from it, and be able to laugh after you’ve learned.

*See, I told you there would be dogs in this story, you just had to be patient.

Thank you for reading this article! If you liked this sneak peek, check out the full book, “Dog’s Advice for Young Professionals” available now on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0942BVTVP