Wonderful Ways How Pets Improve Work Life Balance

Life for working people can get very tough especially when the lines of working and overworking get blurred. With the Covid 19 scenario, almost everyone was forced to work from home, which further altered the office scenario. Finding the right work-life balance has become difficult, leading to increased stress and anxiety problems. Did you know that pets play a major role in improving our work-life balance? Today, we are going to ziggle you through everything you need to know about the love and routine pets can bring to our lives and provide us with the relaxation we deserve!

What is Work-Life Balance?

Before we move on to the cuteness and unconditional love pets can bring into the lives that motivate us to take a break when required, let us first understand what it is and how we can learn to balance work. When we decide between the number of hours we spend at work and the number of hours outside of work, we can balance our work life and life other than work, like family, pets, friends, etc. It means achieving a neutral balance as per priority to personal and professional activities.

How Getting a Pet Helps

If you have been feeling that there is nothing better to do than just sitting behind your laptop, then you surely have not had a pet. Pets, especially dogs, can fill your life with unconditional love and keep you involved in various activities apart from working, therefore automatically striking a work-life balance. Here are ways how pets can contribute to achieving the perfect equilibrium you have been looking for:

• Helps in reducing stress: Research and studies have shown time and again that having a pet or a dog around you can be a great source of stress reduction. Many workplaces have recently started the trend of ‘bring your pet to work’ as it changes the mood and anxiety of people into positive motivation. Taking a break between work to look at your pet or returning home to your pet waiting for you makes one feel wanted and loved. When you know you have your pet waiting for you at home or its routine walk is due, you automatically take a break from work and use your energy in spending time with your furry friend, which then does not leave any time for stress or feeling of anxiety, since you are mentally engaged in something calming.

• Maintains a routine: One of the key ways through which pet parenting helps balance work and normal life is with the routine they bring. Having a pet means following a routine in taking care of your pet. You wake up on time, take your pet for the necessary physical activity required (in this case, dogs), and make sure that you take mini breaks to feed your pet on time. A routine is established which must be followed both for your and your pet's well-being.

• Improves social life: As pet parents, you have to step out with your pets, especially dogs; you must know that they are great conversation starters. You meet like-minded people who feel the same way about animals as you do, and once you have more friends, there will be more outings and more parties, which will strike a balance you are looking for.

• Makes you active: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! The effects of a sedentary lifestyle can have damaging effects. If you want to get active then getting a pet would be the best solution. Walking your dog means you have to walk too, which helps your body get the physical activity it requires. It has been observed that dog owners are more likely to take walks or do other physical activities as compared to those who don't.

• Makes family bonds close: Attaining a balance between work and life means spending time with family too. Having a pet is a great way to make your family get together. For instance, you can go out for picnics with your dog and your family. Playing ball in the yard is one activity that everyone enjoys. Having a pet in the family means everyone is obliged to take care of it - the pet becomes an aspect of common interest and concern, which naturally makes the family come closer.

• Companionship: Last but not least, pets contribute immensely in providing companionship to their owners. Isolation and feeling of loneliness can lead to depression and other illnesses. Whereas, if you have the company of someone who loves you and only wants love in return can make you feel wanted and needed - which in today's time is a feeling enjoyed by few people. Most people are unable to strike the balance in life that they are looking for because they do not have companionship or unconditional love from others. They also do not understand the concept of pet parenting. On the other hand, Pets are not calculative and love freely, creating positive vibes around you.

This was all about wonderful ways how pets improve work-life balance. If you do not have a pet or are not a dog parent, you must consider getting one because it will bring lots of love, happiness, wiggles and ziggles into your life. For all other pet-related concerns, there is always Zigly!