We all know the benefits of exercise for health, but it is also good for productivity. If exercise is not a part of your daily routine, you may want to consider putting it up there as a priority.
Aerobic Exercise Can Boost The Size Of Your Hippocampus
In one study, done at the University of British Columbia, it was found that aerobic exercise seems to boost the size of the hippocampus. This is the part of the brain that is associated mostly with long-term memory, so giving it a boost could help your productivity in a big way depending on what you are doing.
Not sure what aerobic activity is best for you? Here’s a list of ideas and explanations of why you may or may not want to take them on.
Exercise Can Improve Time Management
A study done at the University of Bristol found that 72% of participants found improvements in their time management on their exercise days, as opposed to their non-exercise days. Perhaps this is because all the extra energy was released and they were able to focus better on their tasks, or perhaps it’s because they had a boost in their brain that helped them manage their time better. Whatever the reason, it seems like a result worth listening to. If you can consistently have better time management on the days that you exercise, then exercising is a key strategy for improving productivity.
Exercise Can Improve Your Mood
We talked about how important a positive attitude is for productivity, and it seems as though physical activity can be one big factor in boosting your mood.
Another study done by the University of Bristol found that exercising at work – being active at work, affected people’s moods in a positive way. Their findings were that on exercise days, people experienced an improved mood after exercising, while on days where they didn’t exercise, their mood stayed about the same. Furthermore, participants performed better on exercise days in time demand, output, and mental-interpersonal areas.
Another study, which had participants report once a day what they were doing and how happy they were, found that physical activity makes people extremely happy. In fact, only sex made people happier. The happier you are, the more productive you can be.
Exercise Can Improve Your Energy
Physical activity stimulates the development of new mitochondria in your cells, which means that you get more energy to push yourself both physically and mentally. The good news is that you don’t need to go too hard to experience these benefits.
One study, done by the University of Georgia, found that people who did moderate-intensity and low-intensity exercise both experienced the same levels of energy growth. In fact, the low-intensity group reported being less tired than the moderate-intensity group, which would be an even bigger benefit for productivity.
Exercise Promotes Creativity
There must be a reason for it, but I couldn’t find a study to give me that concrete reason. It doesn’t matter, though, because inspiration during physical activity has happened time and time again to me and everyone I know. Whether I’m out for a walk or dancing in my house, ideas for my career and home life seem to pop into my head magically. I’ve long known that creativity can be boosted by being in or near water, but it seems that exercise has the same power.
Add Physical Activity To Your Daily Routine For Increased Productivity
If you can, add it to your morning routine and then, if you can, get some in during the day and evening. Start small, note any improvements in mood, attention, energy, focus, etc. Increase and note any extra improvements. Do what works for you, pay attention to your body and the results you get, and soon you will be exercising in a way that works well for you and your productivity.
Not sure where to start? Challenge yourself to take the Longevity Blueprint with Ben Greenfield. He helps you create a daily, weekly, and monthly exercise routine that you can use for the rest of your life.
