Regular physical activity is not only beneficial for your health, but can be great for your career too. Exercise helps improve all aspects of your life including productivity, minimising the risk of illness, and building better relationships with your colleagues.
Improves productivityExercise can help boost productivity at work through alertness. Being more productive and alert can help you to get tasks completed quicker. Physical activity increases the blood flow to the brain, which can increase energy levels and make you more alert, meaning you will be more awake and on your game at work.
Reduces the risk of illnessBeing physically active will increase your resistance against illnesses, which means fewer sick days and not constantly playing catch up if you were off ill. Exercise helps to improve cardiovascular health, maintain a healthy weight, lowers the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, and depression. A healthy you, is a happier you!
Creates less stressExercise is good for your physical and mental wellbeing. Especially since most of us spend around 8 hours each day in front of our desks, causing workplace stress and fatigue. When we are stressed or unhappy, we are likely to engage in unhealthy habits and our emotional wellbeing will suffer as a result. It’s important to keep up positive behavioural choices such as exercise or mindfulness, to help minimise stress levels and help with relaxation.
Fosters teamworkWorking out with your colleagues can help you to get to know your team mates better, and enhance workplace relationships. Social support can also play a significant role in exercise, especially if you struggle to stay motivated with keeping fit. Exercising with your team mates can help you to stick to a fitness regime, and hold each other accountable. Colleagues get to interact together in an environment outside of work, and build meaningful relationships.
Better memory and concentrationBeing more active increases the production of cells in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning. Exercising frequently can boost concentration levels and cognitive ability, meaning your intellectual skills benefit from it. A recent study showed that people who work out in their workday were 23% more productive on those days than when they didn’t exercise.
