Description:
I’ve noticed some offices bring in therapy animals occasionally, and it seems to help people feel calmer. I’m curious why these animals can have such a positive effect on our stress levels at work. Is there something special about them that makes the workplace environment less tense?
1 Answer
Therapy animals might be sneaky little stress ninjas, but it’s not just their fluffy charm at work. They actually distract your brain from spiraling into anxiety by giving you a simple, feel-good focus—like petting a dog or watching a cat’s graceful acrobatics. Plus, their presence can trigger your body to release oxytocin, which is basically a natural chill-out hormone. Or maybe we just like an excuse to pet something cute during a boring meeting? What if therapy animals work because they remind us to pause and breathe, rather than because they're inherently magical? Does it have something to do with their unpredictability breaking the monotony of office life?
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