A doggone good outlet for stress
Of course, feeling stressed during exam time is perfectly normal. But learning to find a healthy outlet – for instance, a 15-minute walk with your favorite four-legged friend – to rejuvenate between study sessions could be the most important lesson you learn.
In November, Saint Leo University Counseling Services teamed up with TranquilPawz, an all-volunteer group of registered therapy dogs and dog handlers, to bring therapy dogs to campus. Offering nuzzles and nudges, the furry ambassadors had a singular goal: to help promote stress management.
“Research has suggested that both heart rate and chemicals associated with a stress reaction such as cortisol can be reduced through interaction with a new pet,” says Saint Leo Psychology Professor Dr. Kevin Kieffer. “In fact, in some of this research, findings have suggested that interacting with a new pet can reduce stress related chemicals and heart rate more than interacting with a human friend.”
A USA Today article cites similar findings. “Research shows that interaction with pets decreases the level of cortisol – or stress hormone – in people and increases endorphins, known as the happiness hormone,” the article says.
Not ironically, that story headline reads: “For stressed college students, a doggone good way to relax”.
Does that mean Fido can help you become a more successful student?
Of course, breaking your study session to play with a furry friend wont guarantee youll ace your exams, but a positive pet interaction could give you the break you need to refocus, relax and get back on track.
Research on human-animal interaction
A recent study from Tufts Universitys veterinary medicine school on human-animal relationships demonstrates that that people often turn to their pets in times of emotional stress as a source of comfort and psychological support
The study found that children in military families who have a strong attachment to a pet have better coping skills overall when at least one parent is deployed, indicating that positive relationships with companion animals may be beneficial, particularly during times of stress.
Thats a topic worth thinking about during April – National Stress Awareness Month.
Its the same month during which many college students are facing end-of-term papers and final exams.
You’ve had a dull, boring class and now have no mood to do anything? If you have a dog, none of this will matter once you arrive home. The moment you walk through that door, with only a simple wiggle of its tail, your mood will instantly change. Dogs have an exceptional ability to change your mood instantly. They are always eager to know how your day was, delighted to twist on your feet, euphoric to follow you around and exhilarated at the idea of snuggling for some minutes. That’s how dogs help us to relax after a hard day.
Boosting health by reducing stress and anxiety are some of the various ways of how dogs help us. When it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a dog has been proven to promote your overall well being. Not only through walking them daily, but because they have been shown to lower tension, sadness, nervousness and many other mental health disorders. To be honest, it’s a main reason why college students need a dog, as many claim to give up at some point due to studying pressures. Your dog will help you lower your anxiety, make you calm down and assist you to perform brilliantly in your studies. They are perfect cuddle cronies proven to help you calm down among other benefits. They have perfect senses, and when you are feeling down, they tend to be more caring towards you.
Unlike people who may not stick to you during your dark moments, pets are always with you through it all. With their positive impacts on student’s psychological benefits, self-esteem and combating depression, owning a dog in college can the best decision a student can make.
Owning a dog requires some responsibility to care for them. College teaches about growing up, being independent and getting ready for adulthood. A dog will help further teach you these things. You can’t leave a dog alone for a very long time since it needs to be fed, taught and played with. Thus after classes, you will feel obliged to rush home and take care of it as well as complete your assignment.
Confidence in schools means a lot to students. It’s self-assurance to students affirming them they can do better in their studies. Students who lack confidence are prone to poor performance in school. Many students lack enough confidence and coping skills to handle disturbing emotions, and they are left to deal with their inner fears alone; this doesn’t have to be the case. A study done by Tufts University proved that young people who are attached to a dog are emotionally healthier as compared to their peers who don’t have any pets. Dogs boost confidence by adding a sense of determination that forces them to interact even when they don’t feel like. The study found that, the attachment level to a dog was related to having self-confidence. With enough confidence, a student can surely do better in their exams.