Pets are not just animals. Find out how spending time with them positively impacts your well-being!

Friday: Mindfulness by Miles FROM THE DESK OF MILES EVERSON: Happy Friday! Welcome to “Mindfulness by Miles!” I’m excited to share with you another tip that I find useful in my daily life. My hope is that you’ll also find this compelling and helpful in both your personal life and career. Are you ready? Continue reading the article below to know why having pets at home is beneficial for your overall well-being. CEO, MBO Partners Chairman of the Advisory Board, The I Institute

Pets are not just animals. Find out how spending time with them positively impacts your well-being! You might have encountered people who say pets are “just” animals, as if these furry friends are not important in their lives. These people probably never owned a loving dog or cat, or haven’t experienced that connection between humans and their pets. Most pet owners understand how wonderful owning a dog, cat, or any other animal can be. They understand the sense of companionship and how it’s possible to form strong bonds with an animal. For those of you who don’t know much about me yet, I have 3 wonderful dogs at home. My wife and I love taking them with us on our morning walks because they are great companions and they positively impact our mood throughout the day. To all of you who also have your own furry friends… do you know the benefits of having pets are wide-ranging? They not only impact your well-being but also influence your social interactions with people, sense of responsibility, and more! The Health and Mood-Boosting Benefits of Pets According to the American Educational Research Association’s (AERA) study, cuddling with your pets even for just 10 minutes not only gives you all the positive feels but also helps lower your stress levels. In fact, it’s scientifically proven that spending time with your furry friends enables your body to release feel-good hormones—oxytocin, prolactin, and serotonin—and reduce your cortisol level, the body’s natural stress hormone. They lower your blood pressure by 10% too! I can attest to this because whenever I pet or play with my dogs, I feel more at ease and in a better mood. That’s why I believe having pets is good for our overall well-being. Their presence in our lives brings lots of positive effects, such as: Improved Health and Wellness Based on a 2019 study by the American Health Association (AHA), owning a pet contributes to a decrease in a person’s cardiovascular risk and an improved response to stress. After all, having a cat or dog at home keeps you active and increases your energy levels. Think about this: Playing with your pet can help you reach your daily exercise goals, and at the same time, it keeps your furry friend happy and healthy too! Additionally, exercising with your pet improves the bond between you two. If you have a new puppy or kitten, you can combine your exercise with their training. Better Social Interactions Have you ever experienced walking your dog alone in the park then a few moments later, you find yourself having good conversations with someone else? I’ve experienced that. Thanks to my dogs, I can say I’m doing quite well in having small conversations with different kinds of people! According to an article from HelpGuide.org, 69% of pet owners have more social interactions than those who don’t. This shows pets bring amazing benefits to our health by providing us companionship and helping us combat loneliness and anxiety. Besides, it’s also beneficial to bring your pets out of the house regularly. This will help them socialize with other people and animals, and adapt to different kinds of situations, places, etc. Stronger Mental and Emotional Support I personally find it incredible to think just how much support an animal can bring to our lives. For example: For those who have special needs, there are breeds of cats and dogs that are ideal for providing emotional and physical support. Pets can be lifesavers for those who are experiencing grief or depression too. They will look you in the eye as if trying to comprehend every word you say, sit with you during quiet times, and give you a sense of purpose and a reason to get out of bed when you’re feeling particularly anxious. Generally speaking, animals have a deeply calming effect on humans and often pick up on their owners’ moods. For instance: If they sense that you’re anxious, they’ll either snuggle up to you or lick your hands just to help you feel better. What I personally love about my dogs is they help take my mind away from my problems and place me in the “here and now.” For me, this is a basic mindfulness practice and is wonderful for my overall health and well-being. To summarize, owning a pet is definitely life-changing and will bring you so much joy and love! These animals will help you develop a sense of responsibility, shower you with unconditional love, and be there for you whenever you need them. So, if you have a dog, cat, or any other pet at home, be sure to take care of them and show them your love! This will be beneficial not only for their growth and development, but also for your physical, mental, emotional, and social stability. I hope you find today’s topic helpful and insightful! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach me via my LinkedIn account. I’d be glad to talk to you and learn from your thoughts and opinions as well. Have an amazing weekend!     Follow us on LinkedIn.