The benefits of exercise for employees and employers

Let’s get straight to it

EMPLOYEE benefits of exercise

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 50 years or so, you will know to some extent the general benefits exercising has. So, we’ll jump straight to the benefits that directly impact your professional work-life.

Improved concentration and prolonged mental stamina:

When you do any type of intense physical activity, it causes blood to flow to the brain. This in turn fires up your neurones and promotes cell growth. This means that just 20 minutes of exercise before work can improve your concentration and help you focus more on your tasks at hand. In the long run, exercising frequently can also improve your mental stamina meaning you can actually concentrate for longer bursts – meaning you can work for longer!

Fun fact: In the mornings we have the longest ability to stay focused, the average person above the age of 16 can remain at a focused level for up to 90 minutes. Concentration and focus levels start to decrease as the day goes on, however, as a general rule it’s recommended that for every 52 minutes of focused work you should take a break of no more than 17 minutes. – Now imagine if you went for a walk around the block or squeezed in some stretches in that time. You’d never feel groggy at work again!

Sharper memory  and improved thinking skills:

Moderate-intensity exercise such as jogging, pilates or swimming can help improve your thinking and memory in just six months. This happens directly due to your body becoming more sensitive to insulin and reducing inflammation. It also encourages the production of special chemicals that support the growth of new blood vessels in your brain. Additionally, exercise promotes the creation, survival, and overall health of new brain cells. Exercise can also boost memory and thinking indirectly by improving mood and sleep, and by reducing stress and anxiety! This in turn also enhances your overall creativity, as you have an increased ability to think, remember and focus on your tasks which opens up the floodgates to creative solutions!

Lower stress:

Exercise also has some direct stress-busting benefits. Physical activity may help bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. After a fast-paced HIIT class, a long walk or a gym sesh, you may often find that you’ve forgotten the day’s irritations and concentrated only on your body’s movements. Not only does exercise make you feel more relaxed, but it can actually allow your body and mind to become more resilient to stress – you can handle more before it becomes overwhelming. Therefore, you will be able to crack on with the day feeling calmer and confident you’re renewed for the day ahead.

How you can implement exercise as part of your daily work-life

• Workout first thing in the morning
• Commute to work via bicycle or walk if you can
• Go for lunchtime walks with your teammates
• Set an alarm every 90 minutes to remind you to walk around and stretch
• Sign up for a gym near your workplace

EMPLOYER benefits of exercise

So if the previous section wasn’t convincing enough, let’s take a look into why employers should take an interest in promoting exercise for the office team. Not only does a fit workforce mean more productivity, it also results in financial gain, business growth and long-term loyalty and satisfaction from employees. Encouraging physical activity for your workforce will create a culture of health in the workplace, resulting in:

Better productivity and turnover:

If your individual employees feel better and have improved levels of productivity, that has a  direct impact on the company’s overall efficiency and therefore often results in a better turnover. When sport becomes a part of one’s life, people are more resilient to stress and happier to engage with others, resulting in improved communication between departments!

Fewer costs and absences:

Fit employees are less likely to use sick days. When employees use fewer sick days, they contribute more to overall productivity. They also reduce the hassle of trying to find replacements at the last minute. According to the Work Institute’s 2017 Retention Report, the replacement cost is €14,000 per person for an employee earning a median salary of €42,000 a year. When workplace health is high, employees tend to report higher job satisfaction, they outperform unhealthy counterparts which can lead to a greater

sense of accomplishment as well as higher levels of recognition and incentives.

Enhanced company culture:

When you encourage employees to focus on their health and even better offer the opportunities to do so, they will often become more loyal and value the company they work at more. Showing employees you want to ensure they’re looked after it will increase the overall dynamic resulting in better communication, team effort, engagement and drive.

How you can encourage employees  to implement exercise as part of their work-life

• Offer discounts on gym memberships and local clubs
• Adjust your work hours to allow people to work out before, during or after work
• Build an in-house fitness suite into the building
• Organise weekly team sports or fitness programmes for the team to take part in
• Encourage lunchtime walks or ‘active’ breaks

How can BodyBase help?

At BodyBase we’ve recently launched the AceLine machine, a reformer that is also a TRX, because it can be placed horizontally or vertically on the wall – to maximise space and expand training possibilities. It is the perfect solution for an office workout, whether you enjoy a deep stretch, cardio kick or resistance-based workout this machine adapts to every need and ability. You can check out our Ace studio page for some insight into how it could be a great solution for your office and boost productivity amongst the team!