We already know that having a pet can help to make you happy.
But scientists now believe pet ownership can also make you healthier, from lowering blood pressure and reducing stress to improving your immune system and reducing allergies.
But could owning a pet help to make you more successful too? We think so!
A Pet Gives You Routine and Structure
While some people may shy away from the idea of getting a pet for the worry that it will be too much work, having a pet can actually help you to make more of your time by getting you into a good routine.
Sounds crazy? Here’s the logic behind it.
If you read about the daily routines of successful people, a common factor that almost all of them share is a structured daily routine.
It might be waking up at a certain time, or exercising a certain amount, or always working between certain times. But whatever it is, it allows them the time and space to work on the thing that makes them successful.
That being said, it can be very difficult to get into a good routine. Those extra few minutes in bed can be too tempting, as can watching TV on the sofa instead of going out for a run.
Having a pet, however, can be one of the best ways of getting more structure into your day. Walking, feeding, cleaning, and even playing.
You Can Learn Responsibility and Discipline from Your Pet
This point joins on to the previous one. Imagine it’s freezing cold, dark, and raining outside, but your dear pooch is desperate for a walk.
You can’t very well leave your pup “unwalked”, no matter how tempting it may be, so you wrap up warm and get out there. You might even enjoy it, but that’s beside the point. What matters is that you do it.
While this act of self-discipline might be second nature for pet owners, being able to make yourself do something that you know needs to be done, even when you don’t want to, is a vitally important step on the way to success.
No matter what you do, there’s always going to be tasks that are less fun or less glamorous than others.
If you can put yourself in the mindset of that daily dog walk that you do rain or shine, it will undoubtedly help you to get those unappealing tasks done.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Unconditional Love
In the words of the late, great Nat King Cole, “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”
It may sound cheesy, but having a pet really can be an incredibly valuable source of unconditional love.
They don’t mind if you fail an exam, or if you don’t get that promotion you were going for; they’ll love you just the same.
For many people, knowing that they’ll still have the unconditional love of their pets helps them to strive for bigger and better things, free from the crushing fear of failure and disappointment.
Emotional Support Animals Change Lives
We all have days where we feel like we need a little extra love and support. And anyone who’s hugged their dog extra tight after a long day at work can tell you that pets are a great way to get that.
But for some people, their pet can go above and beyond what most pets do. Becoming a real lifeline by offering support, love, and strength they need to cope with stressful and challenging situations.
These animals are known as emotional support animals, or ESAs for short.
ESAs help people with all sorts of mental and emotional conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and more. ESAs are protected under federal law, allowing them to go into certain places where regular pets are restricted, such as commercial airplanes or “no-pets-allowed” accommodations.
For many, many people, having an emotional support animal means that they can go places and do things that they otherwise would be unable to do, which we would count as a resounding success.
While getting a pet will always involve a certain amount of hard work, expense, and dedication, there is so much that you can get back in return, from love and devotion to health benefits and a better daily routine.
If you’re aiming for success, your pet might be your number one support in getting there!