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Our pets are generally highly tuned to our emotions and often feel responsible for them- resulting in mannerisms that are not always normal.
Do you have pets that seem skittish or shy at times when they are generally more active and friendly? Or maybe they want to lay around near you instead of play.
Our pets are generally highly tuned to our emotions and often feel responsible for them- resulting in mannerisms that are not always normal.
Your pet may be frightened by your emotional state and feel that they caused it- or take responsibility in another way by trying to comfort you. Either way, chances are they are feeling stressed, and it’s up to you to help them realize everything is okay. When you project a calm state of mind, your pet also can sense this change and react accordingly.
Pinpoint Your Own Stressors
One way to address your own stressors is by recognizing them. Start keeping track of how you feel, when you feel it, and what was happening when you began to experience these feelings. If your own emotional state is such that you notice your own pets responding to them, it is time to take back control.
Also, keep track of how your pets are responding to you. Make a note of what behaviors they exhibit that seems out of the norm, as well as your own interpretation of them and how they react to you when you address them directly.
Practice Meditation
Meditation is an excellent way to find balance with your mental and physical state. It can also allow you to recognize better and acknowledge your tensions to let them go. Meditation also dictates a quiet space in which to practice, which can be further enhanced with the use of soft music and essential oil diffusion (be sure to use pet-safe oils). For help finding diffusers that cover large spaces so your pets can take advantage of these therapeutic aids, check out bettermindbodysoul.com.
Make Lists
Once you commit your needs to paper, you no longer have those reminders cluttering your memory. Make lists of daily chores to cross off, shopping needs, do-to projects, and even goals and dreams you may have. Watching lists get shorter provides instant gratification and positivism.
Set Routines
Creating routines can create positive habits to help lower stress responses. As you become more comfortable with daily routines, you can better go about completing them without having to plan too far in advance or think too heavily about them. This also makes it easier to deal with unexpected trails as they come up and work your way down your lists.
Keep a Journal
Just because you get your stress triggers recorded and in order by recording them doesn’t mean you have to stop. Keep a regular journal to reflect on positive and negative events, explain how you feel, work through emotions, write letters to people in your life or yourself to understand better how they affect you, etc…
Exercise
A regular exercise routine is an excellent way to increase feel-good chemicals in your body, work out tensions, and help you get in touch with how your mind and bodywork in tandem. Many people find they truly enjoy one specific exercise goal due to the therapeutic effect.
Get the Right Amount of Sleep
Adults require 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night for their mind and body to get the rest it needs to function as it should. When you begin to skimp on your sleep, it adds up, and when you become sleep-deprived, your whole being will suffer. You also will struggle to focus, and problem solve, increasing the chances that stressors will begin to create more problems than you want or need.
Distance Yourself from Negativity
Sometimes you can control what happens to you, but you can control how you react. If negativity at work or home is something that raises your heart rate and creates anxiety, try distancing yourself as much as possible. If you can walk away, do so. If you have to deal with the problem, try keeping your emotions out of it, and apply a logical approach instead.
Conclusion
All of the above tips can help prepare and ready your mind for an increased state of calmness. This is an essential practice to help create a better atmosphere for you and your pets to live within. This is especially true for those animals who are sensitive to changes in your mood and react in a manner that is not normal for them as they try to cope. Work towards a balance for your mind and body to deal with stressors as they arise and discover the calm that comes with your newfound health.
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Welcome to Spike’s Dog Blog by Acme Canine. Throughout the site, you will find a variety of helpful dog training articles, insightful dog behavior tips, and truthful product reviews from nationally-recognized canine trainers and professionals.