Getting a pet is an exciting milestone, and a huge opportunity to experience love like you’ve never experienced before. It doesn’t matter whether you choose to get a cat or a dog,—the benefits can offer more than just companionship, they can even affect your mental health.
And while the responsibility of getting a pet is definitely something you should take into consideration, you might just find that the benefits largely outweigh the risks. Here are some important benefits of getting a pet that might just convince you to take the plunge.
Companionship
While we can undoubtedly find companionship in our human counterparts, the companionship found in our pets is unlike any other partnership. Pets love us regardless of what we do, which can be one of the purest forms of love that we can experience.
Even in the absence of a social life or family living nearby, a pet is there to remind us that we’re not alone. This is why so many people turn to animals as a way of combating feelings of isolation.
Seniors in particular can benefit greatly from having a pet, since feeling isolated and lonely is one of the leading causes of depression for people over the age of 70.
Yet, even people with rich social lives can enjoy the companionship that pets have to offer. For many families, pets are a part of the family and no different than any one of their kids.
Increased Exercise
Having a pet can significantly motivate you to move more. This is especially true if you have a dog. Dogs need to be walked regularly, which can be a huge motivating factor for moving your body more. Various studies show that dog owners who walk their dog twice a day surpass the daily recommended level of exercise!
Lower Stress Levels
There’s nothing quite like the loving paws and kisses of your pet when you’re not feeling your best— and data proves it! Statistics show that pet owners have much lower levels of stress than non pet owners.
This is likely because having a pet gives them a sense of responsibility and companionship that can bring them comfort and reassurance even through the darkest of days. Yet, pet owners don’t just experience lower stress levels, but even boosted mental health overall. Pets have a calming presence and a tactile comfort which is a natural mood booster and happiness stimulator.
Life Skills
If you have children and get a pet, then please know that you’re teaching your children important life skills, like responsibility!
Having a pet fosters a sense of responsibility and emotional connection. From feeding your animal to grooming it to playing with it, looking after something or someone else’s overall well-being teaches children about empathy.
And if there’s one thing we can say about this world that most people can agree on, it’s that the world could use more empathetic people.
