A Paws For Thought

4 weeks of non-stop pet appreciation! April is National Pet Month which means 30 days spent spoiling our furry or scaley friends (Even though every month should be Pet Month!)

It has been proven that pets relieve stress in work environments therefore we thought we’d find out the benefits of working with your furry or scaley friends. It turns out, there are a lot more positive impacts that they can have on your own health as well as their own wellbeing.

I don’t know about you but as soon as I catch a glimpse of an animal, I immediately have the biggest smile on my face. Not only do they always look so adorably innocent but all they want in life is to love and to be loved and that is very wholesome. They honestly don’t care about your looming deadlines or workload, what they do care about is your happiness and the time you spend with them instead of leaving them at home all day.

Pets are completely selfless (though some cat owners may disagree) and that selfless energy is radiated throughout the workplace. Research has proven that pets can lower blood pressure, reduce stress/anxiety, prevent loneliness and uplift your mood.

Dogs, in particular, force you to get outside during your workday as they need to be walked or let out for the toilet. Taking time away from your computer and heading outdoors is going to have a huge positive impact on your mental health and stress levels. It allows you time to clear your head, prioritise things and live in the present moment rather than constantly thinking about that deadline in 2 weeks’ time.

It’s hard to think creatively when stuck in an office all day. Walking also increases creativity, perhaps you could take your meetings with you on a dog walk to enhance new ideas.

Pets can be very funny beings to watch and engage with. Whether they are running around in circles with a toy or slyly about to push something off of a shelf, pets always find a way to make us laugh whilst also creating a little bit of mischief.

They can also boost attendance as you won’t need to rush home to look after them. Whether they’re a new pet or they suffer from a bit of separation anxiety, having them with you at work will also prevent any worries as you can always keep an eye on them.

When we think of bringing pets to work, we usually think of our furry four-legged friends, however, there are also health benefits to keeping fish in nerve-racking environments to calm people down. Fish tanks in waiting rooms are very popular as it acts as an escapism from the world you are in as you focus on the fish swimming around their home. The sound of the water is also proven to reduce stress and contributes to the act of mindfulness.