Go Outside! 5 Benefits of Exercise in the Workplace

Do you ever feel unproductive in the office? You’re swamped with documents, to-do lists and a never-ending supply of unanswered emails, but you just can’t get yourself to finish them. Well, it’s understandable that you might go a little crazy when you’re stuck in an office all day.

Healthy individuals are supposed to be getting at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise in a week, and sometimes that’s often hard to do for full-time employees. After coming home from work, all you want to do is pass out or relax. So why not make some time during the workday to get some physical exercise in? Here are 5 benefits of exercise in the workplace!

1. Reduce negative stress

Although there are positive aspects of stress, it’s not healthy to keep work-related anxiety bottled up inside of you. It’s important that you have some time to let out some steam, and sometimes you need it before you get home. Especially if you don’t have some sort of outlet or hobby to relieve your stress, exercising daily at the workplace will turn your life around.

2. Increase productivity

When people exercise, it increases their sustainability, level of energy and mood. Employees will feel less exhaustion after a good workout, and their productivity will improve significantly as a result. Sitting at a desk for 8 hours straight can be a hardship, especially with the attention of today’s generation. When you have a block in your head and can’t seem to focus on your work, getting some exercise may clear it. Leaving the desk for awhile may help generate some ideas and solutions to problems you may have been having.

People who have the motivation to exercise often turn out to be better employees. They have self-discipline and self-control--two important characteristics of a good worker.

3. Physical health

According to the World Health Organization, the top three leading causes of death are heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive lung disease. These diseases tend to drive up health care costs significantly.

Although exercise doesn’t guarantee 100% prevention, it can help normalize and balance your body. It can help control blood pressure, cholesterol and weight, which are all factors that affect the diseases listed above. People who exercise get sick less often, which means more contribution to the company. 

4. Mental Health

Exercise releases endorphins, which are chemicals that create a sense of happiness. This reduces feelings of depression, and can boost your mood.

As you get older, you tend to lose important brain functions. Staying active will keep you and your mind alert.

5. Workplace Culture

A workplace culture that promotes exercise is a workplace that knows how to support the health of its employees.I like this last sentence a lot It sends a message to workers that the company cares about their well-being, and thus improves customer satisfaction. Such an environment is conducive to collaboration and teamwork, and is a great reputation for a company. Of course, it’s necessary to ensure that exercise is not prioritized over finishing tasks.

So consider taking an extra 30 minutes for your next lunch break, or cutting back on your eating time to get your exercise in! Especially in the summer, it’s nice to get outside and give your body the health benefits and the vitamin D it deserves!