Amidst uncertainty, you are likely looking for any possible way to reduce stress and increase joy. Your four-legged (or two-legged or no-legged) friend might have a solution.

Whether you’re scratching your dog behind the ears, playing with your parakeet, or letting your snake slither up your arm, many studies show that interacting with pets has a positive impact on both your physical and mental health. From fewer doctor visits and better sleep quality to lower blood pressure, caring for a pet is proven to enhance your well-being.

In difficult times, increasing joy and reducing stress is no easy task. In the face of the coronavirus outbreak, many think it nearly impossible. Fortunately, Fido is up to the challenge.

In difficult times, increasing joy and reducing stress is no easy task. In the face of the coronavirus outbreak, many think it nearly impossible. Fortunately, Fido is up to the challenge.

How Pets Increase Joy

When you see a wagging tail or hear a purr of contentment, it’s clear that you’re making your pet happy. Luckily for your health, that relationship goes both ways.

Help Guide contributors Lawrence Robinson and Dr. Jeanne Segal point out that owners perceive the love from their pets as unconditional. Where human relationships ebb and flow, pets are always there for their owners. In addition to this powerful connection, pets fulfill the basic human need for touch which has a wealth of therapeutic benefits.

Similarly, pets give people a sense of motivation and purpose. In caring for another living thing, your life has meaning and that alone is a source of joy for many people.

Furthermore, owning a pet can lead to increased social interaction. When you’re out walking your dog, you’re much more likely to interact with a stranger. Pets are often the icebreaker in social situations that might otherwise be awkward.

Speaking of walking your dog, caring for a pet gives you a reason to spend more time outside and exercise. While spending time in nature has a myriad of mental health benefits, the regular exercise that walking your pet provides also leads to lower rates of obesity and fewer physician office visits. Pet ownership saves Americans billions of dollars on healthcare annually, and when our pets can join us in our offices, home or otherwise, the rewards only increase.

How Pets Reduce Stress

Just as exercising and spending time outside with your pet can be a source of joy, it can also reduce stress. Regular exercise is one of the best natural remedies for stress and anxiety. Exercising outdoors may even increase the stress-reducing effects of your workout.

The Guardian contributor Jules Howard recognizes the role pet ownership plays in reducing loneliness. Isolation, which much of the world is dealing with amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, can be particularly stressful for older people and those who live alone. While most people would probably prefer a living, breathing pet, one study showed that caring for a robotic dog decreased loneliness among nursing home residents.

Additional research highlights the power of petting. Giving your pet belly rubs and back scratches can reduce cortisol levels and increase oxytocin production. The latter decreases blood pressure and boosts immune function.

It takes as little as 10 minutes of interacting with your pet to start reaping the health benefits. Recognizing the positive impact of animals, universities across the country have “Pet Your Stress Away” programs in place which bring dogs and cats on-campus to help students cope with academic pressures.

Should You Co-Shelter with an Animal?

If dogs and cats can help students cope with academic pressures, perhaps pets can provide comfort in the age of the coronavirus.

People certainly seem to think so as animal shelters have reported dramatic increases in demand for foster care and adoption. Since the beginning of 2020, Zeel contributor Marcy Lerner reports that the desire to foster or adopt an animal has increased 70% in major cities like New York and Los Angeles.

COVID-19 and social distancing measures have caused many people to feel anxious, isolated, and even depressed. Considering the studies linking pet ownership to better mental and physical health, it’s no wonder so many people are interested in co-sheltering with animals.

Of course, adopting a pet isn’t something you should take lightly. Before you open your home to a furry friend, new adopters should take the proper steps to be as prepared as possible for their pet’s arrival. Those preparations include pet-proofing your home and calculating expenses for procedures like spaying or neutering.

If you’re interested in adopting or fostering a pet, consider getting a senior dog or cat. With waiting lists as long as 2,000 people in some cities, adopting a senior dog or cat increases your chances of getting one since they’re typically adopted at lower rates than puppies and kittens.

Other perks of adopting a senior pet, according to NBC Boston correspondent Mitchell McCluskey, are that they’re often calmer, usually housebroken, and easier for newbie pet owners to handle. If adopting a senior pet sounds like a good fit for you, think about investing in pet insurance since older animals are more likely to have chronic health conditions.

Whether you’re adopting a senior dog, welcoming a kitten into your home, or are already a happy pet owner, animals are a source of comfort in uncertain times. They may have no idea what’s going on in the world, but your pet will continue increasing your joy and reducing your stress.

Does your pet help you to increase joy and reduce stress?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

About the Author

Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer that lives in the Northwest region of the United States. She has a particular interest in covering topics related to good health, balanced life, and better living through technology. When not writing, her free time is spent reading and researching to learn more about her cultural and environmental surroundings. Find her on Twitter.

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