Caring for a pet can help you with healthy lifestyle changes |09 November 2013

Pets are known for easing loneliness, stress and for being a vital source of love and 

companionship.

Across the years, researches carried out have shown that keeping a pet can bring a number of benefits to the owner.

Adopting healthy lifestyle changes can play an important role in easing symptoms of depression, stress, bipolar disorder and anxiety. Caring for a pet can help with those healthy lifestyle changes by:

Increasing exercise
Exercise doesn’t have to involve boring repetition at a gym. Taking a dog for a walk, riding a horse, or simply chasing a kitten around are fun ways to fit healthy daily exercise into your schedule.

Providing companionship
Isolation and loneliness can make disorders such as depression even worse. Caring for a living animal can help make you feel needed and wanted, and take the focus away from your problems. Most pet owners talk to their pets, some even use them to work through their troubles.

Helping meet new people

Pets can be a great social lubricant for their owners. Dog owners frequently stop and talk to each other on walks or in a dog park. Pet owners also meet new people in pet stores, clubs, and training classes.

Reducing anxiety
The companionship of a dog can offer comfort, help ease anxiety, and build self-confidence for people anxious about going out into the world.
Adding structure and routine to your day
Many pets, especially dogs, require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. No matter your mood – depressed, anxious, or stressed – you’ll always have to get out of bed to feed, exercise, and care for your pet

Providing sensory stress relief
Touch and movement are two healthy ways to quickly manage stress. This could involve petting a cat or taking a dog for a walk.
Pets and older adults
The key to aging well is to effectively handle life’s major changes, such as retirement, the loss of loved ones, and the physical changes of aging. Pets can play an important role in healthy aging by:

Helping you find meaning and joy in life
As you age, you’ll lose things that previously occupied your time and gave your life purpose. You may retire from your career or your children may move far away. Caring for a pet can bring pleasure and help boost your morale and optimism. Taking care of an animal can also provide a sense of self-worth.

Staying connected. Maintaining a social network isn’t always easy as you grow older. Retirement, illness, death, and moves can take away close friends and family members. And making new friends can get harder. Dogs especially are a great way for seniors to spark up conversations and meet new people.
Boosting vitality
You can overcome many of the physical challenges associated with aging by taking good care of yourself. Pets encourage playfulness, laughter, and exercise, which can help boost your immune system and increase your energy.

Compiled by Mandy Bertin