How Pets Are Taking Care Of Your Mental Health
Pet owners can tell you that despite the ups and downs, at the end of the day, their pets have made their lives a lot better. In addition to being cute and cuddly, pets have many mental health benefits. Check out this guide on how pets are taking care of your emotional well-being.
They Help You Develop A Routine
Pets require a great deal of care and attention. They also push you to develop a routine. According to Northwestern Medicine, having a routine can help with stress levels, improve your health, and give you the structure you need to do other things that boost your health, such as exercise and proper eating. If you’re going through a transitional period, embracing a routine may be what you need. Here are a few things you need to take care of for your pet on a daily basis:
- Feed Them: Whether your pet eats once or twice a day, you will need to work around this schedule. This can ensure that you wake up early.
- Go To The Store: You will probably need new supplies to care for your pet. Though you won’t do it on a daily basis, you will need to go at least once a month.
- Take Them Out For a Walk: Dogs should be walked regularly. If you’re looking for a break from working from home, going on a walk around the neighborhood could be exactly what you need.
- Clean Up After Them: Let’s face it — pets can be a tad messy! But that’s okay! Think of those messes as a chance for you to clean up around the house and get things nice and tidy.
They Can Push You To Meet New People
Socializing can help you feel generally happier and improve your cognitive skills. With a global pandemic, it may seem that it’s harder to meet people than ever before. But your pet can push you to meet new people. For instance, when you post a photo of your dog or cat on social media, there’s a good chance one of your followers who also has a pet will see it and could reach out. You can exchange tips, and organize group walks or a hike. Another way to meet new people with your pet is to go to a neighborhood dog event at your local park.
Though pets can get you to meet new people and develop meaningful relationships, you should be open to other options if you’re going through a mental health crisis. Online psychiatry is a great tool you can use to find the answers you need. You can speak to a licensed professional who can help you improve your mental health and achieve happiness.
They Can Give You A Break From The Chaos
Taking a break from your screen can make you more present in the moment and improve the quality of your sleep. Though there’s surely benefits, too many of us don’t take these necessary breaks because of the demands of our jobs or social life. Spending time with your pet is a great chance to get away from the chaos and just be in the moment. If you’re working from home, you may need a reasonably available distraction that doesn’t involve a screen. When things get stressful, just play with your pet and tap into this different side of yourself that isn’t so attached to posting and writing emails.
They Help With Stress
A study published in the Frontiers in Psychology found that when humans spend time with their pets, their brains release chemicals which help with stress relief such as dopamine and serotonin. Next time you feel overwhelmed, you can take comfort that your pet is there for you.
They Teach Us About Our Relationships
Whether we are having a bad day or a good day, your pet will appreciate you just the same. This unconditional bond doesn’t happen overnight. A good pet owner has to be patient, diligent, and caring. These are all qualities that can transfer over to your romantic and platonic relationships with other people. Through being a pet owner, you can reflect on these relationships and become a better partner or friend.
Pets take care of our mental health in a myriad of ways. Though sometimes it can be tough, being a pet owner is ultimately a highly rewarding experience.
Spread love towards your pets by getting them pet insurance. This article provides a guide to understanding pet insurance.
About the Author
Amelia Ma is a freelance writer from Burlingame, California. She enjoys writing articles for professionals that are interested in self-improvement, health, and wellness and pets. In her spare time, you can find her exploring local coffee shops in search of a new favorite.