By Celeste McLaughlin, Ergonomics Manager
Solutions Northwest, Inc. – Arcata, California

“Workers that reported healthy habits were also workers that had high productivity in the work place.” – Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine,

We all know that eating right and exercising often is good for you, but do you know just how good? Aside from health benefits, your everyday life can see improvement, which includes your work life and productivity on the job.

In fact, according to JOEM, employees that reported healthy habits were also workers that had higher productivity than average in the work place.

3 Ways Exercise Improves Your Work Life:

1. Improved Productivity at Work

Exercise boosts your energy, promotes a better night’s sleep, and improves your overall mood. Unlike artificial energy boosts, these boosts will last you throughout the day, from home to the work place. A JOEM study has shown that employees that exercise at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week, were 15% more likely to have higher job performance.

2. Less Sick Days

In a JOEM study, absenteeism was reportedly 27% lower for those workers who ate healthy and regularly exercised compared to the average worker. Being active boosts good cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides, which allows for smoother blood flow and decrease of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, exercise helps combat stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, several cancers, arthritis, and falls.

3. Happier Work Life

Work can be the cause of a lot of stress in life and exercise is a great way to combat that stress. Hitting the gym or going for a brisk, 30-minute walk can help stimulate various brain chemicals (endorphins, adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine) that work together to leave you feeling happier and more relaxed throughout the day.

Many studies have shown that proper exercise can be as effective as medication for improving mood in mildly depressed individuals, though it is not a medical substitute, the results are very telling.

In Conclusion

Whether you’re looking to improve your home life or work life, exercise is a great way to achieve that goal. Try around 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise to feel the benefits exercise has in store for you. Keep it fun, set clear goals, and remember to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program.

For more health tips, exercise ideas, and suggestions to keep your workplace a healthy environment, check out our blog featuring advice from our ergonomics experts.

For an ergonomics consultation to keep your workplace safe and healthy, visit SolutionsNW.com or Contact Us for more detailed information.

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