When thinking of ways to reduce stress in life, usually techniques like meditation, yoga and journaling come to mind. These are immense techniques. But getting a new best friend can also have many stress relieving and health benefits. Unless you're someone who really dislikes animals or is absolutely too busy to care for one properly, pets can provide excellent social support, stress relief and other health benefits-perhaps more than people! There are more health benefits of pets:

Pets Can Improve Your Mood: For those who love animals, it's virtually impossible to stay in a bad mood when a pair of loving puppy eyes meets yours, or when a super-soft cat rubs up against your hand. Research supports the mood-enhancing benefits of pets.