If you haven’t heard of National Pet Month, let us fill you in. This campaign runs from April to May every year to educate pet parents on responsible pet ownership and celebrate life with our animal companions. The truth is, having a four-legged friend by your side can be quite the stress soother. So we spoke to our fellow pet lovers here at Pet Supermarket HQ about the benefits their pet has had on their wellbeing.
1. Pets can foster mindfulness
Every pet parent at Pet Supermarket agrees on this: being a pet parent can be wonderfully therapeutic. In fact, playing with your furry friend can increase your serotonin and dopamine levels, helping to calm any anxiety. Our pets can also provide sensory stress relief; simply stroking your cat or dog can lower your blood pressure. Above all else, our pets can help us live in the moment and become more mindful. Your cat or dog won’t dwell on events from earlier in the day, nor will they hold grudges. The next time you’re rushing to meet an urgent deadline or receive a frustrating work email, try to take a leaf from your pet’s book.
2. Pets can create a regular routine
We’ve found that working from home more often these days can send you out of whack with your daily routine. Having the company of a four-legged friend, however, can be a simple solution to this. Being a pet parent means getting up at the same time every day, taking your dog for his morning walk, giving your pet their breakfast, cleaning out your cat’s litter tray, squeezing in time to play… and so much more. They may seem small, but these daily rituals add up to a routine. If nothing else, caring for your pet can give you a sense of purpose and achievement for the day. You catered to your companion’s needs and they love you all the more for it.
3. Pets can encourage us to exercise
We all know that sedentary lifestyles can have a negative effect on your personal wellbeing. But venture into the outside world with your pet and any worries or anxiety will start to dissipate a bit, almost as if by magic. That’s why many of us here at Pet Supermarket HQ try to stay as active as possible. Our daily dog walks have helped us settle into a great meditative rhythm and, quite frankly, are always a breath of fresh air. The same goes for our feline friends – a walk around the garden has become a permanent feature of our day. Some of us have even started going on runs at lunchtime, with our pooch in tow. Anything to get our feet (and their paws!) moving.
4. Pets can be a great distraction
As all pet parents will proudly proclaim, our furry friends can be a great distraction from everyday life. When we’re home, our pets offer us social interaction (surely we can’t be the only ones having full-blown conversations with them?), heartwarming companionship, and plenty of laughter. Classic Pet Supermarket moments have included sitting in front of the camera when we’re on a video call, hearing them causing mischief in another room, and reminding us it’s time to take a break. We’ve also found that discussing our pets with our colleagues has manifested into hours of conversations, picture sharing, and daily joy. It is a favourite topic, after all.
