Instead of just wishing you had a dog’s life, why not pick up some of your pet’s healthy habits, says Emma Raizman, MD, a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. Start with these five tips.
1. Get out and play
“If you look at your dogs, they want to be let out all of the time,” Dr. Raizman says. “They want to run, they want to use their legs and build their muscles, build their endurance and get all of that energy out.”
2. Learn portion control
You’re typically serving the same amount of food to your dog every day. You should do the same for yourself. A routine will help you avoid overindulgence.
3. Sleep like a dog
Pay attention to how much sleep your dog gets; you should make sleep a priority too.
4. Be forgiving
Studies show people who forgive are less angry and less stressed.
5. Show your appreciation
Show gratitude and appreciation for the people you love. “You know when you come home your dog is wagging their tail, they’re happy to see you, and they don’t hold it in,” Dr. Raizman says. “They just let all of their emotions show.”
