Your Pet and Self-Care: How They Can Benefit Your Well-Being
Welcoming a pet into your home is one of the best decisions you will ever make. There is nothing quite like walking through your front door after a long day and seeing your dog or cat waiting to greet you.
You might also notice a positive connection between your pet and self-care. Introducing a pet into your life can actually improve both your mental and physical health.
Here are a few ways a pet may improve your overall wellness.
Motivates You To Maintain a More Active Lifestyle
Most pets need a certain amount of exercise each day. Dogs, for example, require anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours of daily exercise, depending on their breed. Cats should also get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise.
From the moment you bring a new pet home, make exercise a part of their routine and join them in exercising as often as possible. Walking a dog or playing with a cat will make you a more active person. This can improve everything from your heart health to cognitive function.
It might also get you out of the house more and enable you to socialize with other people and pets. An increase in social opportunities may leave you feeling less isolated and improve your mood.
Allows You To Manage Mental Health Issues More Effectively
Arguably, the best part about getting a pet is that it will provide unconditional love and companionship. This will work wonders for your mental health.
A 2022 survey revealed that nearly 90% of people experience improvements in mental health issues thanks to pet ownership. It may improve yours by:
Alleviating anxiety
Reducing depression
Minimizing stress
Lessening loneliness
The bonding you do with your pet and self-care will often go hand-in-hand. The more time you spend with them, the less depressed, anxious, and lonely you might feel.
Many people also report that their dogs, cats, etc., help them stay present and more mindful, which can promote better mental health.
Encourages You To Undergo Emotional Development
While your pet will do a lot to help you, you will also need to care for their needs. This will include feeding them, but that’s only the beginning.
You must also learn to connect emotionally with your pet to strengthen your bond. This will help you develop compassion and empathy for others.
See How Our Trained Animals Can Help During Your Therapy Journey
After welcoming them into your home, your pet and self-care will quickly become your top priorities. But why stop there?
With Mental Health Awareness Month on the horizon in May, you may also want to take other steps to improve your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Unleashed Counseling offers animal-assisted therapy sessions that can take your efforts to the next level. Make 2025 a year of tremendous growth by working through any lingering issues you might have with assistance from trained therapy animals.
Call us at (484) 933-4370 to schedule an appointment with a licensed therapist.