How Health Impacts Productivity

The Relationship Between Health and Productivity

Health and productivity are imperative for success. I have found there is a relationship between health and productivity. Scores of people in late adulthood have not saved enough to supplement retirements for a comfortable living. Struggling to keep up with higher living standards, all of us are putting in more hours. More hours means less time cooking and exercising. On the average, 43% of Americans exercise two to three days per week. Cooking less at home generates more fast food choices. All this gives cause for more healthcare cost. If we are more health conscious and productive we would retire at an earlier, healthier, real age. Many older adults now realize the social and psychological benefits of working past age 65 and continuing a productive life but struggle due to poor health. About 45% of you will retire at a later age than you originally expected. Nearly 75% of you will keep on working past official retirement age. Even if you seem productive and healthy, there are invisible factors at play that make you less productive. These include stress, medications, illness, and family issues. These hidden issues are suspect to costing Americans $150 billion per year in productivity costs.

Fix Your Eyes Upon Health

When the workforce increases, so does the waistline. About 64% of adults are obese. A BMW automotive company dealership took action and collectively lost 640 pounds in 7 years. The dealership holds a Biggest Loser contest every three months and about 30% of the employees partake. They bring on experts who share knowledge and useful resources, information, support, and work-life solutions. By addressing health they had lower absenteeism, experienced better retention and more productivity. This BMW dealership is also the top-selling and most awarded in the nation. Employees are happier and have more energy.

How Health Improves Your Productivity

We can easily rationalize a healthy person can handle more of a workload. Being capable of working harder and longer hours, taking fewer breaks. Though sitting down at your desk for hours is detrimental to your health, do not let you office work be the death penalty or ticket to poor health. Size down changes to improve your health. Studies show that after exercising you are more tolerant of others and have a noticeable gain in work performance. Exercising midday improves mood, confidence, productivity and decreases stress levels. Exercising boosts energy, reducing the need for caffeine and food rich in sugar. You do not need these pick-me-ups. Instead, get your blood flowing and body moving. Although Waking up early or heading toward the gym during lunch does not work for everyone, those who exercise before work or during lunch were found to handle stressful situations better and improved time management. If you increase your fitness levels you will see a noticeable gain in productivity. Make time for exercise to improve your performance.

Time for Fitness

Concerning staying fit, be creative and make it a personal priority. Sometimes incorporating physical activity at the office is as simple as standing up. Can you change you workstation to allow varying positions? How about using a podium to read or check briefs and other related work? Many of us sit down at our screens for seven to eight hours a day, five days a week. Just 30 minutes of exercise five times a week is sufficient. You are not compelled to do all 30 minutes in one setting. Divide it up into five to ten minute increments. Breaking a sweat or going to the gym is not necessary to give productivity a boost. Basic office movements lower the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. The movements also improve posture and reduces pain in the neck, back, forearms and wrist. Productivity techniques such as Pomodoro are suitable for periodic breaks in your work. I tried the Pomodoro technique in November and I will fill you in on how that went in a later post. You can use your own custom technique, such as 90 minutes of work and a 15 minute break. Tailor your method to your personal productivity style which meets your needs. Do not fear getting up and roaming the building. There is plenty you can do inside. Any movement is good; just move as much as possible. New routines take some time to build, so don’t be overwhelmed or discouraged.