Owning a pet is a big responsibility. And if you are up for the responsibility of looking after an animal, it may just help you take responsibility for taking care of you too.
Our two French Bulldogs, Tyrion and Mowgli are often a huge part of my healthy lifestyle. They help me get outside and go for a walk with them (well, sometimes only Mowgli as T-dawg sometimes prefers only the evening walk!) every morning for 40 minutes. It’s hard not to be fully present when playing tug of war or fetch with a dog!
Pets often mean much lower cortisol and blood pressure levels for their owners, and research shows that pets come with a higher overall life satisfaction and happiness too. The mental and physical health benefits far outweigh the increased responsibility for us. You’ll need to decide if this is a sustainable option for you though.
Be mindful of the responsibility, especially with your own mental health being a priority. Fostering cats or dogs may be a good place to start as it is often time limited and you can decide if it works for you.
