Are you looking for ways to improve performance and productivity for yourself or within your team? Do you find yourself and your team reaching for overly sweet snacks when the afternoon afternoon fatigue slump rolls in? Incorporating more movement into your workday could be the easiest and most affordable strategy and it might just give you that competitive edge.
We already know that there is an abundance of evidence showing that aerobic activity can significantly improve our cardiovascular risk factors but studies also show that exercise increases productivity with as little as 30 minutes of walking per day.
Exercise gives you more energy and improves mental capacity. It has also been shown to reduce stress, combat fatigue, improve performance and lead to fewer workday absences. A natural stress reducer, exercise combats chronic stress often suffered by workers.
The effect of exercise on creativity, memory and learning
- Aerobic exercise has been shown to change the size of the area of the brain involved in memory and learning.
- Taking time for exercise increases mental acuity. When your brain is performing at full capacity, you focus better, concentrate more, and thus make smarter decisions.
- Walking benefits your mood, by releasing your body’s endorphins.
- Walking meetings increase creativity by 81-100%.
- It’s recommended to exercise in the morning or at lunchtime to enhance your brain power and productivity.
- Taking time to exercise before a meeting will keep you mentally sharp.
- A power walk at lunchtime can combat that mental fog and afternoon slump that makes you reach for the caffeine or scroll on social media.
- Increased productivity is noticeable within the first few weeks of beginning a new workout routine.
Exercise raises your energy levels, lowers cortisol levels, and improves mental, emotional and physical well-being. When you feel happier and energized you’re more efficient and effective at all tasks in life.
Tips for incorporating more movement into your workday
- To make your workout feel easier, ask someone to join you. “Walking together offers many positives including building positive relationships with team members.
- Walk when you are on the phone. A walking meeting can be done with two people over the phone on headsets.
- Leaders should normalize walking meetings (or “pulse meetings”)to help employees feel more comfortable doing so as well.
- Take “active” breaks during the day. Stretch, go get a glass of water, take the long way to the washroom, walk up and down the stairs etc.
- Sit on a stability ball.