5 Ways Your Yorkie Can Help You

Beat the Holiday Stress

The holidays don’t always arrive gently. Sometimes they crash in.


Company is coming to your house, and you’re heading to everyone else’s. The cleaning has to be finished before the first guest steps inside. The cooking, the wrapping and the shopping all want to happen at once, and the list only grows.


So does the tight feeling in your chest every time you see the total at the register.


One errand turns into three, and by bedtime you can’t remember sitting down once. You mean to pause. You really do. But there’s always another task waiting, and giving yourself a rest keeps getting pushed to tomorrow.


It’s a whirlwind, and it’s easy to get swept up in it. Then the holiday finally comes and you’re too frazzled to enjoy it. After all that effort to make the season special, you barely get to feel it.


There’s a different way through.


Your Yorkie is already in the middle of everything with you, and they make a very good reason to slow down for a moment. Just enough to destress and reset.

Yorkie owner with dog at autumn lake, illustration

Here are 5 ways to take a break. Each is simple yet effective, and each one can slip into a busy day.

#1 The Unplugged Walk

Twice a day, you and your Yorkie are going to vanish for 20 minutes. The madness can carry on without you.


No quick lap.


No rushing back to do anything.


Phone goes on silent.


When you close that front door behind you, imagine every one of your troubles stays on the other side. The cleaning, the cooking, your two aunts’ argument over who will host Christmas. You’re leaving it all behind. The next 20 minutes belong to you, your Yorkie, and nobody else.


Whether you’re heading down a sidewalk or a forest trail, stay present to your environment.


Slow Inhales.


Allow big, deep breaths of that crisp, cool air to refreshen your soul.


Keep the pace comfortable and see the world the way your Yorkie does. They find joy in the tiniest things, and every step is a new discovery.


These next 20 minutes are for you to find that same magic. Search the branches for birds. Watch the clouds make shapes. Listen for the hum of an airplane somewhere high above.


Soak it all in.


Let this walk be your little escape. The best part is, you can repeat this every day.

#2 Window Watching on Stormy Days

Some days the weather cancels the walk. But it doesn’t have to cancel the break.


Too rainy, too windy, too cold?


Trade the trail for a window. Your Yorkie already has this down pat. So, we’ll take our cues from them!


All you need is a quiet window and a soft throw. Relax even more by adding a cozy cup of tea or cocoa. And don’t forget, that phone goes on silent. The next 20 minutes belong only to you and your Yorkie.


Whether you have a view of a busy street or a hushed woodland, what’s happening out there?


Allow your eyes to follow the taxi or the bird landing in a tree. Hear a hum? Where’s it coming from?


Watch the rain slide down the glass. Follow the leaves as they tumble across the lawn. If an airplane crosses the sky, follow it all the way across.


When your mind drifts to the gift you still haven’t found for your cousin or your food shopping list, bring it back to the window. Gently.


By the time your cup is empty, you’ll have given yourself a few minutes of nothing but looking.


Sometimes it’s only after a break like this that you realize nothing bad happened because of it. In fact, you feel refreshed and reset to dive back into your tasks.

#3 The Power of a Pat

Sometimes the best break is already within reach.


Sit down next to your Yorkie. Plan on about ten minutes. Pet them slowly, from head to back, and let your mind settle.


Does it really help? Science says yes.


Researchers at Washington State University had 249 college students either pet and play with cats and dogs, watch others do it, look at photos of the animals, or wait their turn. The session lasted just 10 minutes. Afterward, the students who petted the animals had less of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva than the others.


Another study checked blood pressure. People's readings were lowest while they were petting a dog. They were higher when they only talked to a dog. Touch was the key.


So skip the chatter this time and just pet.


A quiet sofa. A sweetie beside you. A little time that's all yours.

#4 Seven Minutes of Play

This break takes just seven minutes, so save this one for those super-busy days when you simply can’t take a longer pause.


And, don’t get us wrong. Your Yorkie deserves much more than 7 minutes of play! But this is all about 7 minutes of focused, quality interaction in an otherwise chaotic house or a day with impossible demands.


Easy, fun options are fetch (indoors or out), hide n’ seek, or a gentle game of “wrestling.”


What can happen in just those 7 minutes?


A dose of happiness!


In a study by Australian researchers, people who spent seven minutes of undivided time playing with their dogs, hide and seek for example, said they felt relaxed, happy and closer to their pets, much like people who tried a dog meditation. Undivided is the key word.


Phone down. Chores can wait.


Taking a break for a dash of fun will do both of you some good. And who knows, maybe by not looking at the clock, it’ll last longer than you planned.

#5 The Afternoon Nap

Your Yorkie has never once waited for the to-do list to be finished before taking a nap. So, let’s take a lesson from them.


There’s no rule that says naps are only for children and dogs. And, in fact, a daytime nap is more than an indulgent treat. Researchers have found it can calm a stressed-out body and mind.


Studies show that short naps, under 30 minutes, can ease stress, lower cortisol, and lower blood pressure. Some research even links regular napping to a lower risk of heart attack and stroke.


So, here’s a cozy nap plan (and we’re sure your Yorkie would love to join in):


If possible, aim for early afternoon, when your energy naturally dips. Naps near bedtime aren’t ideal.


Set a timer for 20 to 30 minutes. Phone calls and texts go on silent.


Draw the curtains, tuck a soft throw around you, and let your Yorkie curl up beside you.


The next 20 to 30 minutes belong to just you and your little sidekick.


The cleaning, the cooking and the wrapping will all still be there in 20 minutes. But you’ll face them with a clearer head, and a calmer heart. Your Yorkie would tell you so.

A Final Note

However you spend the holiday season ahead, whether it's a table full of people or a quiet evening at home, we hope some of the above comes to mind.


Your little guy or gal brings all of this into your life just by being in it. And if that's not something to be thankful for, we don't know what is.

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