The Dog is a Man's Best Gift to Mental Health.

I remember some of the craziest advice I ever received from a therapist. During a time when I felt overworked and constantly on the go, I was rushing through my therapy appointment to get to my next commitment. At that moment, she offered me some of the best advice I had ever heard: "Take time to be like your dog today."

I remember thinking, "What the hell?" But as she encouraged me to reflect on her comment, it made complete sense. If you've ever taken the time to watch your dog outside, you can see they are fully engaged in the moment. They smell everything, roll around in the grass or snow, and you can find them basking in the warmth on sunny days.

Despite how strange the advice seemed, I decided to try it. Every day for 10 minutes, I would go outside and pretend to be my dog. I would lay in the grass and be there. As odd as it felt, the impact was significant. My wife and I even turned it into a mantra—whenever I was overwhelmed or anxious, she would say, "Be like Leo," reminding me to slow down.

What dogs do so well that humans often struggle with is the art of single-tasking. We live in a world that promotes multitasking as a valuable skill, but in reality, multitasking can increase anxiety and decrease our ability to perform at our best. By constantly switching our focus between multiple tasks, we can experience mental overload, which triggers stress responses like increased cortisol production. This results in feelings of overwhelm, frustration, and ultimately anxiety. Essentially, our brains are constantly trying to recalibrate, leading to a sense of being unable to fully focus on any one task, which can feel threatening and provoke anxiety symptoms.

When we stop multitasking and concentrate on just one task at a time, it can have a positive impact overall:

1. Reduces Overwhelm

Anxiety often arises from feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks or thoughts at once. Single-tasking allows you to break things down into manageable steps, reducing cognitive overload.

2. Improves Focus & Presence

When you focus on one thing at a time, you can be more present in the moment, which helps quiet anxious thoughts about the future or the past.

3. Enhances Productivity Without Stress

Multitasking may make you feel busier, but it often leads to inefficiency. Single-tasking helps you complete tasks more effectively, reducing the frustration that can fuel anxiety.

4. Strengthens Mindfulness

Single-tasking aligns with mindfulness practices by training your brain to fully engage in one task, which can help calm racing thoughts and reduce stress.

5. Encourages a Sense of Accomplishment

Completing one task at a time gives you a sense of progress and achievement, which can counter feelings of anxiety and self-doubt.

6. Lowers Cognitive Fatigue

Switching between tasks drains mental energy. Focusing on one task conserves cognitive resources and reduces exhaustion, which can help you manage anxiety more effectively.

So, as you go through your day today, consider how your pet can remind you to stop and do one thing at a time. Maybe even take a moment to sit in the sun and appreciate the world around you.