When it comes to health and wellness, you cannot ignore the benefits of pet ownership. These pets prove beneficial to you and your family in a handful of ways. That’s why pets such as dogs and cats are considered furry members of the family.
But did you know that having pets is more crucial during this pandemic? Some reports can attest to this as many individuals and families have either adopted or purchased pets amid the global health crisis. In fact, the National Geographic Channel claims that pets have helped people cope with pandemic situations.
That said, here’s how pets can help you and your family during the COVID-19 pandemic:
1. They help relieve your stress
There’s more to pets than meets the eye. Just the mere presence of dogs wiggling their tails can light up your house. The same is true with talking to your cats if you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Even looking at your hamsters can make you feel a bit relaxed and relieved.
Know that when people are stressed, they release stress-related hormones called cortisol. Some studies show that interacting with pets helps reduce these hormones in your body. It is, for this reason, that human-pet interaction can help relieve stress.
2. They ease your loneliness
Stay-at-home orders and restricted movements can lead to extreme sadness among individuals and families. Home isolation can be all the more crucial for individuals living alone at home or in their apartment. If left unattended, the loneliness can escalate to depression and anxiety. The pandemic can indeed take a toll on people’s mental health.
What’s good about adopting or purchasing pets is that they can keep you company. Especially when you’re alone, you can play with your pets and talk to them. In a way, they can help ease your loneliness during this pandemic. For all you know, animals can be a great source of emotional support and comfort amid this global crisis.
3. They boost your productivity
The COVID-19 pandemic has led you and your family to work from home (WFH). Some have gone digital in running their business, like doing online selling. If not, a few others have pursued home improvement projects, outdoor landscaping, home gardening, and other productive indoor activities.
But did you know that pets can help boost your productivity? No, we don’t pertain to dogs or cats messing with your work. But having pets around can decrease your stress and help you relax. In fact, 50 percent of pet owners said that pet presence has an impact on their productivity. Another survey says that 95 percent of pet owners couldn’t imagine living without their pets during this unprecedented time.
4. They keep you physically active
It’s easy to have a sedentary lifestyle during this pandemic. You may probably get hooked online, surfing the net and doing absolutely nothing. If not, you will most likely end up sulking due to the uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic can indeed affect your physical health and overall well-being.
But instead of overthinking or doing nothing, it’s best to have pets around at home. They can keep you busy and preoccupied with attending to their day-to-day needs. For instance, you can hire a pet trainer and schedule dog training classes. Even if there’s no pet training, you have to bathe, feed, groom, and even play with your dogs. All these activities will somehow make you physically active during this pandemic.
5. They help address some health issues
The crisis can lead you and your family to all sorts of health issues. Aside from the threat of the COVID-19 infection, you can develop and acquire health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, and respiratory problems. That’s where pet ownership comes into the picture. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underscored the health benefits of pet ownership.
According to CDC, pets can lower your blood pressure, decrease your cholesterol level, and reduce your levels of triglycerides (body fat). As far as mental health is concerned, pets can reduce your loneliness. They can also decrease your symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
There are some good reasons pets like dogs and cats are called furry members of the family. As discussed above, pets can keep you relaxed, make you a bit happy, and improve your work. Also, they can make you busy and boost your health condition. Not only do they promote your physical and mental health, but they also foster your overall well-being. Ultimately, these furry members can help you and your family cope with the challenging pandemic.
