When I started working remotely about five years ago, I quickly recognized how different it was than going into the office and having a regular group of people to chat with throughout the day. Having owned pets my entire life, I knew that adopting an animal would help ease the gap of in-person co-worker interaction. Owen (the cat) has now been a part of my family for three years and is voted ‘employee of the month’ on most occasions.
Owen likes to help with daily tasks such as organizing walking meetings for worksites across Hawaii.
If you’ve ever owned a pet, you know how easy it is to spend hours of your week playing with them, talking to them and making sure they have everything they need to live a happy and healthy life. In fact, 95% of pet owners consider their animals as a member of their families.[i] As nice as it is to have animals be a part of your home for companionship, pets especially dogs and cats, have also been known to reduce stress, anxiety, ease loneliness and encourage exercise and playfulness for their owners.[ii]
By inviting a pet into your home, you can help improve your well-being in a variety of ways:
Companionship. As more people now—more than ever—are working from home, companionship plays an important role in our daily lives. In fact, loneliness has been cited as one of the biggest struggles of working remotely.[iii] Companionship can help prevent illness and add years to your life. Pets make great companions - and no one is happier to see you when you arrive home than your dog!
Meeting new friends. Dog owners and dog lovers frequently stop to talk to each other when they are out on walks, hikes and in dog parks providing the opportunity for social connections and potential new friends. Many people are even starting to take their cats out on adventures!
Reducing Anxiety. Surveys have shown that 74% of pet owners have reported mental health improvements.[iv] Owning and caring for a pet can provide a sense of security and routine. Being around a pet can allow you to appreciate the moment and help alleviate some of your worries!
Increased Exercise. Dogs provide an easy excuse to get up off the couch and go for a walk or hike. Dog owners have been known to meet their daily step goals each day while getting some fresh air!
If you have a pet in your home, give them an extra hug for making the day a little brighter! If not and you are able, consider adopting or fostering from your local shelter or even spend just a few minutes looking up funny cat videos online!
by: Kelsie Cajka, Statewide Worksite Manager, Blue Zones Project - Hawaii
[iv] https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/alleviating-anxiety-stress-and-depression-pet
