People nowadays are starting to see the value of exercise to their health to the point that even the media as well as corporations are highlighting its benefits. For sure you’ve seen, and probably joined, marathons, triathlons, and the like, or have your own annual gym membership card in your wallet too because you are all too aware of what exercising can do for you and your overall health.
Aside from that, exercising may also play a part on your productivity levels where, even spending time in the gym before or after your work hours, you are still able to accomplish more in the day. This is actually one of the reasons why billionaires as well as top CEOs are making time for their exercise even though they have a lot on their plate.
How Does Exercise Help with Productivity?
For those who see exercise as a waste of time or are complaining that they don’t have enough time to work out, there are several reasons how this activity can actually help with your productivity levels. Here are a few that are worth mentioning.
Better mood
Exercising helps release the endorphins in your system which can help improve your overall mood. If you feel happy, you will actually find yourself becoming more optimistic, more positive, and more productive even. It will help you look at life in a better perspective. Through exercise, you will be able to accomplish more because you are in a good mood. Those who are experiencing tough days, or are depressed, may have less desire to take on various tasks.
Become creative
Creativity and productivity are linked in a way because in order for you to accomplish your tasks, you will need to learn how to be creative, or end up back tracking on your work, or spend more time doing brainstorming for ideas as well as solutions to the problem. As you exercise, different parts of the body as well as your brain will get activated which encourage creativity.
Improve alertness and energy
Another way that exercise can boost your productivity levels is by enhancing your alertness. As you exercise, more blood gets to flow to your brain, which can heighten your sense of alertness and awareness so that you are able to handle whatever projects you have in mind. There is a particular protein found in the brain called brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF that enhances your cognitive function. This protein is activated through exercise. What’s more, exercise can cause your energy levels to go up which makes you wide awake at work. By being wide awake, you are in the best position to perform tasks much better.
Supports mental health
Another way that exercise helps you to become more productive at work is that it does support your mental health. When you exercise regularly, you are helping reduce your risk from depression as well as anxiety because it promotes the release of serotonin that makes it easier for you to handle all the stresses that you are exposed to. The workplace can be a stressful environment which means that you need to have an outlet for it. And what better way to get rid of stress than exercise?
Focus
Exercising actually helps create more mental space in your head where random thoughts are removed in order for you to be present at the moment. Those who exercise regularly often have more clarity compared to those who don’t. When you become focused on the now, it can help add to your overall productivity. Distraction is one of the reasons our productivity levels are affected which is not surprising given that we are surrounded by gadgets and other sources of distraction. This won’t be a problem if you have managed to create a more peaceful mind that lets you to be in control so that you will be able to avoid getting distracted.
Discipline
Another advantage to working out regularly is that you learn what discipline is all about. Keep in mind that finding motivation to push your body through rigorous training on a daily basis is already a discipline which means that the more you train, the more you cultivate this habit. This particular habit can also encompass other areas in your life such as your work. With discipline, you will be able to power through your work and remain focused on the task at hand.
Less wasted time
Lack of energy can cause our productivity levels to go down. Unfortunately, many of us are quite aware of being sleepy during mid-afternoon which can cause us to become distracted. This can lead to time being wasted and less work being done too. If you want to avoid this issue, then you need to incorporate exercise to your routine, whether it is in the morning or at night. The more energy that you create the less time is wasted on your part because you are able to power through the day.
As you can see, exercising does help you increase your productivity levels at work and in your life, which is what we need at this point. And it all starts with taking that first step to actually trying to become more active in your life.
