In 2016/17, 12.5 million working days were lost due to either stress, depression or anxiety. If you haven’t already got a pet, it may be time to get one as a recent study has shown that pets have the ability to improve human mental health, which includes reducing stress and improving your overall quality of life. With the majority of people’s daily lives being busier than ever before and with society expectations soaring; it’s time to take a breather and look to your furry friend for some valuable life lessons and support.
Dogs have this amazing ability to get excited over the small things in life, like catching a ball or going for a late night walk – it’s important that you acknowledge this and adopt the same outlook; take a step back once in a while and embrace the beauty in the smaller life experiences. Don’t think twice about having that extra slice of cake or stress yourself out rushing for something that doesn’t really matter – focus on enjoying life.
If you’re already a dog lover/owner, you’ll know that pups are the best listeners – they sit while you moan and argue without saying a word at all. It’s necessary to embrace this mindset – you may even be surprised at what you learn through being a good listener to your family, friends and work colleagues.
Listening to others is key to adopting long-lasting and trustworthy relationships – which is something dogs know all too well.
It’s very rare that you see a dog who doesn’t want to head out for a brisk walk – they live for being allowed to run around and play in the fresh air. You should too – even if it’s just taking your dog for a walk twice a day. Why? Besides the obvious that exercise is good for your physical health, it’s also great for your mental health as the body releases endorphins when on the move – these endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body, long and short term.
It’s no secret that dogs cherish their sleep – getting that 20 minute nap in during the day or snoozing off for a late afternoon siesta isn’t an uncommon activity for your four-legged friend. It may seem impossible to fit in an afternoon nap into your daily routine due to how busy you are, but it’s definitely something you need to focus more on and prioritise. There are plenty of reasons as to why sleep is so important for your health; a few of these include an increase in productivity/concentration, avoiding mental/physical illness and immune system improvements.
Dogs stand loyal to their owners – all they look for is companionship and love, they also thrive off being out and about with their dog friends. Dogs are actually social pack animals by nature – and so are you. So why do you sometimes avoid heading out for drinks with friends or attending family gatherings? It’s all so easy to use excuses such as being too tired or not having the funds to travel – but where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Surrounding yourself with family and friends is scientifically proven to boost happiness levels and in-turn your physical health. It’s important to learn this lesson from your dog by jumping head first into positive social environments that are available to you.
Ever notice how dogs always follow their gut instincts? Whether it’s sniffing out a ball that’s miles away or warning off people who they think may be a threat to you – they always come out on top. This is something you need to learn from – are you happy going with what everyone else thinks is right and the correct way of doing things, instead of going with what you really think you should be doing? Life’s about exploring new options and learning new things – if you don’t take chances how’re you ever going to progress? Don’t regret it in years to come.
Health insurance can be a great way to put your mind at rest when it comes to health worries. We can take steps to improve our general health, including surrounding ourselves with pets who improve happiness levels and stress reduction, but this doesn’t prevent health implications occurring that are solely out of our control.
Get in touch with our friendly team to see how we can help you find the right health insurance policy, for the best price – guaranteed.
