New Years are synonymous with New Year’s Resolutions.
There’s something special about January, because it’s like starting off with a
clean slate. Also, the holidays are gone, which means fewer temptations to eat
treats at home and at work. But New Year’s resolutions aren’t just about weight
loss. You may want to get healthier, make new friends, reduce stress, or earn a
little extra income. Fortunately, your dog can help you with all these goals.
Get Healthier
When you have a dog, there is really no excuse to stay
indoors all day. Your dog would love to go outside for a walk, jog, or run. If
you have a tiny dog, then you can probably outrun them. They may also not have
the stamina to go long distances, but you can still take them for a walk. And
if you need more exercise, you can always invest in a doggy stroller and take them
with you.
With bigger breeds, it’s unlikely that they’ll get tired
before you do. The challenge will be to keep them moving without stopping to
sniff every few minutes – which is fine when you’re going for a leisurely
stroll but not helpful when you’re trying to keep running. Having a walking or
running buddy will make it more fun for you to get moving, and exercise will
definitely help you shed the pounds. Your dog will even remind you that it’s
time to go outside, and how could you resist those big eyes?
Make New Friends
Most adults only interact with the people they work with on
a daily basis. Those colleagues may be nice, but they don’t usually become your
close friends. If you quit your job today, how many of those people would you
still meet up with? If the answer is none, then you should look elsewhere for
friends.
Your dog can help. When you take your dog for a walk, it’s
easy to strike up conversations with others who are also walking their dogs.
You may already have met several very nice people that way. If you want to
expand beyond your neighborhood, you could take your dog to a nearby park or
doggy park. You probably won’t even have a difficult time coming up with
something to say. The dogs will give you plenty of conversation topics.
Now the tricky part is to keep the interaction going. If you
like the other person, you could suggest another doggy play date – ideally the
dogs get along as well. You could also ask them if they come to the dog park
often. Chances are you’ll start seeing some people regularly.
Reduce Stress
Too much stress can be unhealthy. While a good diet and
exercise program can make you more resilient, stress can do a lot of damage. Even
though your dog probably can’t help you with your boss, just spending more time
with them will calm you down. Have you ever noticed how petting animals makes
your heart rate slow down? They have a soothing effect on people, which is one
of the reasons why dog owners are healthier than people who don’t have a dog.
If all else fails, you may just want to schedule a nice long
nap with your dog. It’s a good idea to take the weekends to recuperate from the
stresses of the week. And if you have too many things on your plate, you may want
to see if you can get rid of some of them by learning to say ‘no’.
Earn Extra Income
While money doesn’t buy happiness, it can definitely help
pay extra expenses. Whether you need extra cash to reduce debt or save up for a
specific goal, it isn’t easy to find ways to increase your income. While you
can always ask for a raise at work, you may have to look for earning
opportunities elsewhere. Fortunately, your dog can help.
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