Do you get any physical activity outside of the office? Did you know studies show employees who sit sedentary at their desk for eight or more hours a day with no physical activity of any kind, produce less than their active counterparts?
Even a walk or yoga class during lunch can help. A 2013 study found that employees who spent 30-60 minutes exercising during their work hours reported an average performance boost of 15 percent. Sixty percent of those employees said their mental performance, ability to meet deadlines and their time management skills improved on those exercise days; and they reported improvements in their mood and were also less likely to experience the “late afternoon energy dips”.
The long term effects are even more dramatic. Active, healthy employees really do take fewer sick days. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine showed that incorporating just 2 ½ hours of exercise per week into the workday led to a noticeable reduction in absences and that employees who use work time for exercise or other health promoting measures can maintain the same level of productivity, or higher at work.
In this 2012 study, employees who were more physically active, indicated job burnout was less likely to develop into depression – the best benefits were achieved by people who exercised just 4 hours a week (another bonus for you, but also a bonus for your boss!)
Exercise fuels the brain and helps everyone become more productive. Talk to your boss to make exercise part of an office wide initiative. Make it fun. If everyone in the office makes the time for regular physical activity you will all reap the benefits. Help convince your boss that if they encourage it, they will likely find employees returning to work energized, focused and more productive each and every day.
Need help finding the right exercise for you? Perhaps it’s running, swimming, biking or something else? Contact me to help you get on the right path to a healthier lifestyle today.
