How Your Life and Business are Better With Pets

By Sue Monhait |

If you own a pet or ever have, you know they are an essential part of our lives. They provide us with companionship, emotional support and bring joy to our hearts. But are you aware of the many ways our furry friends make us happier, healthier, and even better business owners?

In this blog post, we’ll go over all the ways life is better with pets including what we can learn from them about running a successful business.

How Pets Help You Emotionally And Mentally

You’ve probably experienced how a pet helps you feel better. They cheer you up when you’re down, comfort you when you’re sad, and make you laugh with their silliness.

But there’s actually quite a bit more to how your pet can help you mentally and emotionally. Studies have shown that living with pets can reduce stress and anxiety, improve your mood, boost self-esteem, and even benefit children’s development.

They’re always there when you need a hug, or just to listen without judgment. Pets somehow have an innate understanding of human emotions, which can help you feel more connected and loved.

Having pets in your life can be especially beneficial during difficult times when you may feel isolated or overwhelmed. Their unconditional love and support no matter what is going on in your life is truly invaluable.

Living with pets can also provide you with a sense of purpose and belonging. They give you someone to love unconditionally, which helps build trust and connection in your relationships.

And pets can even help you stick with your self-care plan by encouraging regular exercise and activities like walking or playing fetch.

Plus, having a pet in your life gives you something to look forward to each day – their unconditional love is always there for you!

The Health Benefits of Living with Pets

Pets are not only great emotionally but can also benefit your physical health. Research indicates that pet owners typically visit their doctor less often than people without pets and that having a pet reduces the risk of developing certain chronic illnesses.

Having an animal around can even boost your immune system, helping protect you against colds and other illnesses. That’s nothing to sneeze about!

Additionally interacting with animals has the ability to reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone) while increasing oxytocin levels (the “love” hormone).

So spending time with your pet can actually lower your blood pressure and heart rate. All of which can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

It’s pretty clear that pets just improve your quality of life overall.

What Pets Can Teach You About Business

Now for the really interesting part.

In addition to these physical benefits, there’s another significant way our furry friends can make our lives better — by inspiring us to be better business owners!

Loyalty & Commitment

Pets can teach us about loyalty and commitment by modeling the best of these traits. They stick by their owners no matter what, showing resilience and dedication even when times are tough.

This same level of devotion is something to strive for in your own business since it’s essential to building strong relationships with customers. Focus every day on doing what’s most important to your customers and strive to provide them with the best service possible, just like pets show us unconditional love every day.

And let’s talk about commitment. It’s one of the most important qualities required so your business can grow and thrive. Staying committed to your goals and ideals will help you stay on track and keep your business running smoothly even when the road is bumpy.

Resilience & Flexibility

Pets are incredibly resilient creatures, always bouncing back from tough circumstances with grace and determination. They serve as a great example of how to approach difficult situations in your business as well.

Sometimes it’s hard to remain flexible and resilient in the face of change or unexpected challenges. Try not to let stress get you down, instead take each situation as an opportunity to learn and grow.

And, as much as we don’t like it, mistakes happen. You don’t always have to be perfect. Pets are excellent reminders of this. When they stumble, they just pick themselves back up and try again. No embarrassment or self-conscious moments for them!

Adapting to Change

Pets are also incredibly adaptable to their surroundings, whether it’s a new home or changes in routine. This is something we can all learn from — the ability to adjust quickly and without complaint when faced with unexpected change.

In business, being able to remain flexible and adaptive can help you stay ahead of the competition and keep up with customer demands.

Change is a part of life, and being able to go with the flow will help your business survive and thrive in any situation.

Appreciation for the Little Things

Finally, our pets remind us of how important it is to appreciate the little things in life.

They exhibit joy and appreciation for all the little things we take for granted. From a simple pat on the head to a belly rub or a particularly tasty treat — pets truly know how to appreciate it!

Adopt this same outlook in your business – to stop and appreciate the small wins, the successes, and even the failures. When you do, it will help you recognize the progress that you’re making … a perspective that often gets lost as we rush on to the next thing.

This approach helps to reduce stress levels, cultivate gratitude in your life, and create a healthier work environment for yourself and your employees.

Want more?

Life Is Better With Pets All Around!

Pets are so much more than just cute little creatures that bring you joy. As we’ve just reviewed, they offer so many personal and business benefits.

There’s much to be gained from learning the lessons that animals can teach you. From loyalty and commitment to resilience and adaptability in times of change, pets show you how to lead a successful business by focusing on what matters most and keeping you healthy.

So the next time you’re feeling down or overwhelmed with work, take a few moments of quality time with your furry friend. It just may be the perfect source of inspiration and motivation you need to keep going.

About the author, Sue

With over 30 years of business development and marketing experience, I've been fortunate to work with hundreds of companies of all sizes. Their needs range from start-up guidelines to advanced business building strategies. As current founder and owner of The Ribbon Print Company, we continue to recognize the need for these services ... not just for our customers but for the gifting industry as a whole. That's where the inspiration began for the Gift Biz Unwrapped Podcast and Blog.