A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association cites that employers lose more than $60 billion a year because workers aren’t as productive as they could be. Interestingly, this isn’t because of lack of interest or motivation but a more curious problem: pain.

Researchers followed close to 30,000 employed adults over a two-week time to determine “lost productive time” due to common pain conditions such as arthritis, back pain, headaches and other musculoskeletal discomfort.

In terms of hours per worker per week, workers who experienced lost productive time from a pain condition lost an average of 4.6 hours. Some of the statistics relative to specific pain conditions were even more startling: workers who suffered headaches averaged 3.5 lost productive hours per week; those who suffered arthritis or back pain averaged 5.2 lost hours per week. And for employers, this lost time translated into approximately $61.2 billion annually in lost productivity.

Studies have shown, physical activity not only improves your work performance but it also contributes to your overall satisfaction with your job.

That’s some substantial figures – ones that also reflect the direct correlation between your physical well-being and your overall performance in the workplace.

Most of us realize that the average workplace isn’t exactly conducive to good health. Besides the substantial amounts of “sick buildings” in existence, sitting in front of computers all day isn’t exactly what our bodies were designed to do. Ironically, your body can be more prone to injury and illness because of inertia.

It’s more important than ever to compensate for the long hours we spend staring into a screen and sitting in endless meetings by exercising and eating well. But it’s often a catch-22: how can you fit an exercise plan into a busy schedule in order to optimize your work performance? Your time seems consumed.

For many people who successfully integrate a workout regimen into their professional life, it means making the time to workout. That’s all well and good for more disciplined personality types but that doesn’t cover all of us.

If you know in advance that you’re not the type to manage 3 to 4 gym visits a week, then you need to adapt accordingly. Some people aren’t “gym types” but manage to go for a brisk walk during their lunch hour. Others take some time after work for a run or walk, which is also an effective way to purge the day from your body and mind.

Whatever you choose, consistency is key. You’re better off maintaining a light workout several times a week than going to the gym avidly for one month only to quit soon afterward (also known as “January Syndrome” in honor of failed New Year’s resolutions.)

Studies have shown, physical activity not only improves your work performance but it also contributes to your overall satisfaction with your job. For some, a job is a job and they aren’t so concerned with maximizing their abilities. But for others excelling at work has a direct correlation to their self esteem (and finances!). In either case, consistent physical activity is one of the keys to not only optimizing your job performance but for feeling great in and away from your workplace!

Be Great!
The GreatAtLife Team

There’s an invisible force out there, affecting us night and day. It exists in our home, our businesses, our food and our water. It’s a world of ecohazards and toxins that have a direct effect on our health and our environment. The more knowledge you have of these invaders, the more you can protect yourself as well as contribute to a greener world.

Let’s address some of the most common invisible threats:

Heavy Metals: Metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum and nickel are very serious environmental toxins. They infiltrate the body through food or drinking water or the air we breathe. These metals are then stored within tissues in the brain and the nervous system as well as the purifying organs (e.g. kidneys) where they interfere with healthy functions.

And worse, it’s often quite difficult to identify heavy metal toxicity because the symptoms are vague or common, such as fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, poor coordination, tremors, constipation and dizziness.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the vast amount of toxins our bodies are forced to contend with, but there is hope.

Volatile organic compounds (or VOCs) – Volatile organic compounds are emitted in many of our households without our knowing it. VOCs can come from numerous sources: dry cleaning fluids, paints, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials, furnishings, office equipment (e.g. copiers and printers, correction fluids, glues, adhesives and permanent markers.)

VOCs have been linked to eye, nose and throat irritation, loss of coordination, nausea, chronic headaches, damage to kidneys, liver and nervous system.

Persistent organic pollutants (or POPs): Persistent organic pollutants are long-term and widespread pollutants. POPs include DDTs, dieldrin, dioxins and industrial compounds. They have been linked to a plethora of disorders such as: immune system diseases, nervous system damage, reproductive damage and developmental problems.

What’s a Body to Do?

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the vast amount of toxins our bodies are forced to contend with, but there is hope.

It’s good to know our body has its own purifying system. Of course, with this said, there is no other time in history that our bodies have had to deal with so many toxins, but we are equipped to filter out the bad.

The major body detoxifier is the liver and its purpose is to break down and eliminate foreign bodies. And the gall bladder excretes bile, which serves as a laxative for the bowel and aids in excretion of the broken down toxins. Hence why a fiber rich diet is imperative as a means of elimination.

Sweating is another way to detoxify. So if you are a person with a light workout, at least make sure you reach the point of breaking a sweat. Interestingly, even tears are a way to expel toxins (and release tension as well. Crying is amazingly therapeutic.)

Here are some other tips to “clean house” both figuratively and literally:

• Eat a diet rich in raw, unprocessed foods; particularly fresh organic fruits and vegetables.

• Rinsing your fruits and veggies isn’t always enough. Wash vegetables and fruit in apple cider vinegar. Don’t waste money on veggie washes you could make yourself.

• If you’re a runner or cyclist, be aware of your path as far as pollution goes: running roadside for extended periods could do more damage than good.

• Keep your home well ventilated. Even in the winter, it’s a good idea to turn off the heat and open all doors and windows for a bit. Yes, it’s cold but your air is stale and holds airborne toxins. It needs to be replenished occasionally, especially while cleaning.

• Look at your cleaning products. Most of us have a toxic arsenal under our sink. And you really don’t need most of it (they’ve just convinced us we do!). Products such as vinegar and baking soda make fine replacements. Feel free to read EarthEasy.com’s “Non-toxic Home Care” article for a longer list of natural cleaning supplies (and how to best use them).

• If you’re buying a home, check out the land with an eye on pollutants. Is your new house or apartment near a major highway? Does the air seem clean? Where are the nearest power plants or industries?

• Body products can host a ton of toxins. Cosmetics, shampoos, perfumes, nail polishes, aftershave, shaving cream…the list goes on. Learn about the products you put on your largest, absorbent organ – skin.

• Vacuum and dust your space regularly.

• Choose eco friendly and non-toxic furnishings and buildings products for your home.

• Avoid the use of insecticides for your home and your pets. There are alternative ways to rid your home of pests.

• Green up your house. House plants actually clean the air and absorb VOCs.

• Chemicals in pesticides have been connected to prostate cancer. Researchers found that drinking 4 to 7 glasses of red wine a week cuts your prostate-cancer risk by 48 percent.

Going green has never been easier. There are more and more alternative ways to improve your living as well as contribute to your world. If you’re not moving in a green direction, you’re missing a critical component in your overall health. The invisible threats are there. How you choose to deal with them is up to you.

Be Great!
The GreatAtLife Team