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
