Nobody would deny the positive impacts of regular exercise and a well-planned fitness plan. However, while the majority of these people are completely convinced that the power of exercise can only impact one’s physical health, we know better. What has come to light in various studies is that fitness and productivity are positively correlated! In simpler terms, the more your legs run, the more your brain runs!

This direct link between one’s physical regimen to their mental firepower is more than enough motivation to get started on your share of fitness. But you’re probably wondering, “What kind of productivity?” Well, we aren’t referring to being able to work for longer hours in one sitting. We’re referring to completing a lot more of your work in a much better quality in the same amount of time. All of this efficiency in exchange for a few hours of exercise!

“But how can, me trying to tone my abs, increase my work productivity?” Glad you asked! Regular exercise (about 5 days every week) sharpens memory! Your brain makes a chemical, namely, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) when you exercise which enhances your brain’s memory circuits. And since these aren’t found artificially and your brain can only make it via exercising, your answer to increase work productivity lies in your willingness to exercise!

There were two woodcutters in a forest; one followed the principle of hardwork and the other followed the principle of wit. The first would toil away without taking any breaks and would still under perform in comparison to the other. This secret was to take breaks and sharpen the blade! When you exercise, your brain cells increase in number and become a lot more active and this improves your concentration, prolongs mental stamina and allows faster learning. 

The idea of creativity increasing because of exercise may sound improbable but think about it. Whenever your flow of thoughts don’t go anywhere, a walk outside freshens your mind and gives you more to think about. It isn’t the air that gets the work done, it’s the exercise!

Since exercising increases your overall alertness, it reduces your stress which may have brought you down mentally. The stress in your brain can affect your entire body which means that your body can affect your brain too. Exercising produces endorphins, which tend to act as painkillers and kill your stress!

How Else is Exercise Beneficial?

People usually consider exercising as only a way to keep your body healthy. Exercising usually means lower blood pressure, a healthier heart, and a longer life in general.

Over the past decade, social scientists have quietly amassed compelling evidence suggesting that exercising can also bring about a more immediate benefit: its impact on the way we think. Yet not many really believe that exercising doesn’t solely have physical benefits as aforementioned, but also increases cognitive capacity and positively impacts mental health.

But how does mental health relate to work productivity? Workplaces always require hours and hours of work. It is no surprise that work productivity, hence, decreases by a fraction with every passing hour. But if you’ve followed your fitness regime, then your brain is far more active and alert. This also elevates your mood. This way, you won’t only be willing to work, but your efficiency won’t decrease as quickly.

In fact, an elevated mood is exactly what a workplace needs to build interpersonal connections and foster collaborations more effectively. An employee with a positive attitude and fresh demeanor is always appreciated. However, if you are drained and irritable, then your social connections fall through as well.

In fact, there is evidence suggesting that exercise during regular work hours may boost performance. Take, for example, the results of a Leeds Metropolitan University study, which examined the influence of daytime exercise among office workers with access to a company gym. Many of us would love the convenience of free weights or a yoga studio at the office. But does using these amenities actually make a difference?

Yes, yes it does make a difference! Within the study, researchers had over 200 employees at a variety of companies self-report their performance on a daily basis. They then examined fluctuations within individual employees, comparing their output on days when they exercised to days when they didn’t.

Here’s what they found: On days when employees visited the gym, their experience at work changed. They reported managing their time more effectively, being more productive, and having smoother interactions with their colleagues. Just as important: They went home feeling more satisfied at the end of the day.

Instead of viewing exercise as something we do for ourselves—a personal indulgence that takes us away from our work—it’s time we started considering physical activity as part of the work itself. The alternative, which involves processing information more slowly, forgetting more often, and getting easily frustrated, makes us less effective at our jobs and harder to get along with for our colleagues.

Make Excercise a Part of Your Regimen

Regardless of how you go about incorporating exercise into your routine, re-framing it by making it a part of your regimen and thinking of it as your biggest priority makes it a lot easier to make time for it. Remember, you’re not abandoning work. On the contrary: You’re ensuring that the hours you put in are of value and aren’t inefficient in any way. And after a month of regular exercising, it becomes somewhat hard to suddenly stop without your day feeling a little empty! Get exercising today and measure your level of work productivity!