Caring for a pet is great for both your physical and mental health. Returning from a long day at work to an ecstatic face is a great mood boost. Science has proven a pet busts stress and can generally make you happier. There’s a correlation between the more time you spend with your companion and the better you feel. Our mental health plays a vital role in how we age, so having a pet has some significant anti-ageing effects.
They Ease Loneliness
Pets are brilliant companions and having someone there that loves you unconditionally eases loneliness. Loneliness is detrimental to our mental health and closely linked with depression and anxiety, both of which can lead to chronic diseases and age us prematurely.
They Reduce Stress
Stress damages our telomeres which protect our DNA from fraying, causing the cells to stop being healthy which causes ageing. Petting a furry friend reduces stress and releases oxytocin, which reduces the stress hormone cortisol. This isn’t exclusive to pets with fur either, having a fish is shown to have similar calming effects.
They get you outside
Exercise is a great mood booster, as well as the fresh air and outdoors which has been shown to be effective at combating stress. Exercise keeps us healthy and it’s no secret that physical activity is one of the best things you can do to age well. Simply walking 30 minutes a day is all you need to combat the effects of ageing and keep you healthy.
They Bring You Back To The Present
Sometimes we need something to occupy our minds, one of the reasons adult colouring books are so popular. Troublesome thoughts at times are hard to shake off. Your mind is a hard place to escape from and a pet is a brilliant way of bringing you back to the present, away from apprehensive thoughts.
A low-pitched purr and playful demeanor are often hard to resist. A pet’s demand for attention makes it hard for negative thoughts to creep in at all.
