Cuddling your pet always leaves behind a warm fuzzy feeling, but according to research, your pet’s presence is doing you even more good than you knew! From energetic dogs and playful cats to soothing fish and curious guinea pigs, different pets provide different types of relief for mental strain. Regardless of your furry companion of choice, what research has uncovered is clear: having a pet boosts well-being!
Even if you don’t have your own house pet, spending time with animals both in and out of the home offers a wealth of scientifically backed benefits to your mental and physical health.
Pets helping us
According to studies, here’s how pets can make our lives better in many, faceted ways.
Less anxiety
Your pet can ease feelings of anxiety by helping create a calming environment in your living space, and just as importantly, they’re right there with you to calm you down in moments of overwhelm. Pets are very good at being present in the moment, which helps you return to the “here and now” as well. In fact, the presence of pets, even others’ pets, can reduce the amount of cortisol in your body, which is known as the “stress hormone”.
Less loneliness, stronger hearts
People with health conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia have been shown to greatly benefit from the presence of animals because of their ability to lessen feelings of loneliness and isolation and reduce occurrences of agitation. Research shows that pet owners without these outlying health conditions also experience less loneliness and isolation, often symptoms of depression. This is due not only to your emotional connection to your pet, but also because of the ways that pets put you in situations to connect with others, such as meeting other pet owners in the dog park. Even further, pet owners have fewer heart conditions; even being around an animal that isn’t yours can lower your blood pressure!
Getting out and about
Having a dog can help you exercise while simultaneously meeting their needs! Even more, when you take your dog for a walk, you’re heading outside and moving around, which contributes to overall mental health. Studies have found that when you take your dog out in nature, your brain releases endorphins (which makes you feel happier and less stressed), boosts your mood, increases your self-esteem, and regulates your sleep patterns.
Less work stress
When someone has their pet at work, you and your coworkers are less stressed and generally happier throughout the day. On top of that, when dogs attend virtual meetings, employees report feeling a sense of togetherness and trust more than when no animals are present. Please keep in mind, however, that experiencing constant stress in your job is not normal. If you’re feeling burnout symptoms in connection with your workplace, we encourage you to seek support with an expert. To gauge your current stress levels, we invite you to take our test, though it is not a substitute for an assessment and help from a professional.
Boosts time management skills
Especially for people with different forms of neurodivergence like ADHD, which can make daily organization more challenging, pets can help get us moving once a new day begins — and keep that momentum going until bed! Knowing that your companion is depending on you for food, water, and more can give a sense of purpose as well as providing a schedule to help develop time management skills and make us feel more organized. Don’t forget that affection goes both ways: when you give your pet love and care, you’ll be rewarded with their unconditional love back!
Pets helping kids
Children also benefit greatly from having animals around. For example, children with ADHD are better able to focus on learning and reading when they do so in the presence of a dog. In fact, children who regularly read to animals exhibited fewer behavior problems and improved social skills, like cooperation and sharing. Children with autism who spend as little as 10 minutes playing with a guinea pig showed a notable decrease in anxiety and an increase in social engagement with fellow students.
Getting the benefits
As much as pets improve our lives, not everyone is ready for a pet or has the resources to take care of one at every stage of their life. To assist in making that decision, there are many resources to help you get an idea of the kind of mental and physical expenditure needed to take care of a pet or to determine the approximate costs per year for different types of pets.
If you’re not able to have your own pet, don’t worry! You can experience almost all of the aforementioned benefits simply by spending time around others’ pets. Further, around the world, there are organizations who would be grateful for you to spend time with their animals. Check if your local shelter is looking for volunteers to play with or go on walks with them. There are also organizations that match volunteers with dogs whose owners aren’t able to take them on walks due to age or health problems. Another option is fostering a pet in need and giving them a safe, temporary home. This can be a great opportunity to “try out” what it could be like to have a pet.
So give your pet a cuddle or take your neighbor’s dog for a walk, and enjoy the boost in well-being!
At TerraYou, we’re here to guide you through the changes you want to see in yourself and your surroundings. Let us accompany you on your journey toward balance and self-fulfillment.
