A CUDDLE or a scratch with your four-legged best friend is one of the easiest ways to de-stress, according to new statistics released by Lifeline ahead of Stress Down Day this Friday.
Local pooch owner and accountant Matt Lenton couldn’t agree more and says stress relief is just one of the many joys of pet ownership.
“It’s good just going for a run, having a running buddy. It gives you an excuse to leave the house and go for a run or for a walk,” he said.
“Leaving home and getting in the fresh air, that definitely helps.”
Stress Down Day encourages pet owners across Australia to support Lifeline’s cause by signing up and taking their dogs, cats and even ferrets into the office on Friday, with studies showing that pets in the workplace show increases in productivity and morale.
“For people who like pets, it’s virtually impossible to stay in a bad mood when a cat rubs against your hand or if a dog wants to play,” said Dr Sandra McCune, scientific leader on human-animal interaction at the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition.
A survey conducted for Lifeline found that 90 percent of Australians need to stress less, with 74 percent of people feeling stressed because of work.
If a person suffers from ongoing or overwhelming stress, it can negatively impact their health, wellbeing, relationships, work and general enjoyment of life.
Register your workplace online at stressdown2015.gofundraise.com.au
