Tuesday

Welcome to Tuesday! Today, we're diving into:

• Self-care activities you can practice with your pet

• How talking to your pets benefits your mental health

• How to strengthen your relationships

• What to know about getting an ESA certification

Self-Care Activities to Do With Your Pet

Just because it’s called “self-care” doesn’t mean it has to be solo! We can absolutely practice self-care with family, friends, and our pets! It’s a great way to enjoy social self-care and do things you love at the same time!

Quality time is important for our pets’ well-being, so doing self-care that incorporates them is a great way to get that in!

Here are a few ideas to inspire some quality self-care and companion time with your furry friend:

• Go on a walk or play outside together.

• Have a relaxing self-care evening at home filled with movies, yummy food, and snuggles.

• Schedule regular appointments — this is a great time to schedule doctor or salon visits for you and vet visits and grooming for your pet.

• Have a playdate with a friend who has a fellow fur baby.

• Try an activity like yoga, meditation, a nap, or structured playtime!

• Brainstorm a creative way to practice arts or crafts with your pet.

Finding ways to incorporate your pet into your self-care routine is the perfect way to enjoy some quality time and boost your mood!

Why Talking to Your Pets is Good for Your Mental Health

While we may care for our pets, they do so much for us, too, from providing companionship to teaching us more about ourselves and all of our relationships.

It turns out that one seemingly small way we interact with our pets — simply talking to them — can have profound positive impacts on our mental health!

Some research found that speaking to pups and having eye contact can give a boost of oxytocin, known as the “love hormone”!

We may also confide in our pets, which can help us work through our feelings!

A survey also found that a majority of people said their pets help them feel less shy and connect better with others — even if we don’t get a response in the form of human words, the connection we have with our pets may help us feel this! Talking out loud has also been proven to help with planning, problem-solving, motivation, and more!

Our pets generally can give a sense of togetherness and ease anxiety, and chatting with them may help this feeling even more!

Even if they don’t chat back — and although they may not always listen — talking to our pets is a great way to boost our bonds and sense of companionship!

Strengthen Your Relationships with Therapy on Your Terms

Feeling distant from your partner, frustrated with family communication, or disconnected from friends? You deserve fulfilling relationships. BetterHelp therapists specialize in relationship counseling, helping you develop better communication and conflict-resolution skills. Take a 5-minute quiz to get matched with the right therapist in 48 hours and connect on your terms—by phone, video, or text. You can even use FSA/HSA funds to cover therapy and save 30% on your first three months. Start today and invest in the connections that matter most.

Sign up now to receive one free month of therapy!

Thank you to BetterHelp for sponsoring Note To Self. 

What to Know About Obtaining an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Certificate for Your Pet

It’s no secret that our pets can help our mental health. From easing loneliness to soothing feelings of anxiety or depression, our pets may help us in more ways than we may realize.

Some people who recognize the many upsides of having a pet may choose to register them as an emotional support animal (ESA).

An ESA does not require specific training but can provide a psychological or emotional benefit. They are different from service animals, so they may not be allowed in all the same places that a service animal would be. However, ESAs are legally allowed in all housing, even those with “no pets” policies. Landlords are also not allowed to charge pet deposits or pet rent for an ESA.

Under the Fair Housing Act, some conditions that may qualify as a disability that aligns with an ESA include:

• Bipolar Disorder

• Cancer

• Depression

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• And more

Many organizations may offer specific “ESA certificates” — however, there is no specific one that you need to pay for. Rather, you may need to send a letter from your doctor or mental health care provider to your apartment stating a need for an ESA. Some housing companies may also have a form they request your healthcare provider to fill out.

Many people have found help in their mental and physical conditions from an ESA. As we care for them, pets can be so positive and transformative for our mental health, too!

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ True or False: True, those with pets have been found to live longer lives! Some studies have found that pets can ease stress levels and were linked with less risk of dying from heart disease!

• 🎁 Our Holiday Self-Care Picks: Don’t forget to check out our 2024 gift guide, a collection of thoughtful, wellness-focused products that help you feel your best, inside and out. Shop our gift guide here!

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week! 

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: If you have a pet, find one way to incorporate them into your self-care routine this week!

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at care@readnotetoself.com!