Being stuck in a chair for eight hours a day while contemplating your 9-5 lifestyle isn’t just discouraging—it’s terrible for your overall health. Although long workdays are typical for most, sitting hunched over in a chair for hours can lead to musculoskeletal disorders, weight fluctuations, diabetes, heart disease, and more, wreaking havoc on your physical and mental wellbeing.
While you can’t dictate your hours or your time spent tethered to a desk, you can control your health and productivity by exercising regularly. You may tell yourself it’s impossible to squeeze in some much-needed gym time when logging 40 to 50-hour weeks. However, with home gyms and online workout tutorials rising in popularity, there are no excuses for ignoring your physical health. Starting with something small like a 15-minute workout twice each day is enough to improve your health and longevity.
To make workouts fun and worthwhile, forgo laps around the track or annoying commutes to your local gym, and instead opt for personalized home equipment to fulfill your exercise needs. Don’t let bulky, heavy exercise devices deter you from creating your at-home fitness center. Instead, start small and invest in an assault bike for a low-impact, beginner-friendly introduction into the world of home gyms.
Although it may be tempting to skip your routine workouts—especially during the beginning phases of healthy habit building—strive for consistency as much as possible. Sticking to a workout routine will help you feel energized, stimulate muscle growth, and increase your productivity throughout the day. On the other hand, skipping weekly exercises can lead to further lethargy, weight fluctuations, and suffering work performance.
Boosting professional success with exercise
Remaining focused at work can be a challenging task, which is why implementing a consistent productivity-boosting health regimen is critical to your success.
You’ll be alert and energized
One way exercise can help boost your productivity at work is through alertness. Far too often, we rely on our morning coffee or energy drink to give us the strength we need to begin work, only to find our energy dwindling by mid-day. When you engage in regular exercise, you increase blood flow to the brain, which wakes you up and raises alertness.
In addition, regular exercise increases your stamina levels day-to-day, allowing you to focus on tasks and projects without low-energy stretches.
Exercise alleviates stress
Stress is typical for 9-5 workers, and if not kept in check, it can bog you down and demolish productivity. However, hope is not lost as exercise is a sure-fire way to alleviate and manage day-to-day anxieties. Physical exertion releases endorphins, which improves your mood, triggering positivity and relaxation.
Exercise promotes faster learning
A hard-hitting 15-minute workout before heading into work can fire up your brain, increasing motor function. Kick-starting your brain power with physical activity allows you to learn quicker, boosts reaction times, and aids in memory recall.
Exercise leads to professional growth
As you push yourself physically in the gym, you’re learning transferable skills perfect for workplace endurance. Overcoming challenges at work can be difficult without adequate preparation and mental capability. By exercising your body, you’re increasing brain function, which allows you to further your productivity and problem-solving at work.
Exercise increases creativity
Exercise has many psychological benefits, including improved creativity. Engaging in consistent physical activity has been proven to enhance divergent and convergent thinking, two components critical to creative thought.
Final thoughts
Although it may be challenging to get into the swing of regular exercise, the health benefits are invaluable—especially for 9-5 workers. Long hours and tedious tasks can weigh your mind and body, which is why implementing a workout routine that fits your schedule is critical in eliminating work-related woes and day-to-day stressors.