Do You Have Trouble Staying Focused At Work?
Are you looking for that missing piece of the puzzle that will help you be more productive at work every single day?
If you could increase your energy levels, boost your mood, become more mentally sharp, improve your memory, reduce your stress, and get a competitive edge at work would that be something you are interested in?
If the answer is yes, put down your coffee and read on…
Most people understand the obvious fact that exercise helps you lose weight and gain muscle. What many don’t realise is that there are a host of other benefits it gives you including improving your performance at work.
A study in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management¹ showed that nearly 70% of respondents reported improvements to their mood, and subsequently their work performance, on days when they exercised.
So, whether you are reading this for yourself, or looking for ways to give your business a competitive advantage by improving the wellbeing and motivation of your employees; increasing exercise could well be the answer you are looking for.
Small, simple changes make a big difference
We are all busier than we used to be. “I don’t have time” is the go-to excuse for skipping the gym. Family, and social commitments make it difficult to incorporate a regular workout routine.
We get that, so here are some things you can implement in your daily routine that will start the ball rolling and get you exercising without even knowing it.
Go On Walking Meetings
The next time you have a meeting with colleagues take it out of the conference room. Stroll through a local park, go around the block or walk around the building. Just make sure the final destination of the meeting isn’t a source of unneeded calories². A recent study³ also showed that walking meetings can help creative thinking so what are you waiting for?
Take the stairs not the lift
Whether it’s going slow and steady for several flights of stairs, or fast and hard for a couple of flights to get your blood pumping, you’ll find your rhythm and what works best for you. It’ll soon become second nature to take the stairs.
Ditch your desk chair
This one can be more difficult to implement but give it a go. If you can’t get a stand-up desk, work from a countertop. Sedentary lifestyles are highly correlated with heart disease⁴, cancer and many other health conditions so you aren’t only boosting your productivity, you are also looking after your health too.
Try stationary cardio and strength exercises
Close the office door, turn up your phone and Jog in place or try push-ups. A few five-minute bursts a day can massively improve your work performance.
How to guarantee you won’t do this for a week and then go back to your old habits.
The benefits to incorporating this in to your and your employee’s daily routines are obvious, but how do you go from trying it to making it a daily habit.
The foolproof way to fit exercise in to your busy schedule
The key to your success is building new habits that become your everyday routine. Building them can be tricky but here’s the thing,
“it’s better to have a consistent 10-minute workout you do than a 60-minute routine you never do.”
The less time commitment, the more likely you will be to build a new habit.
If an exercise seems impossible, the following strategies will help you turn it into a routine that works for you.
Be honest and start small
Make it easy – ask yourself the question out of 10 how likely am I to complete this exercise? If it’s not a 9 or 10 find something else or reduce the time or effort needed. If going out for a 10-minute walk at lunchtime is easy, start with that. You can always build up to longer later. Have a plan that is going to succeed.
You need to make it fun
Firstly, choose something you enjoy doing. If you enjoy it, you are far more likely to stick at it. Getting some colleagues at work involved also adds an incentive.
Overcome your obstacles one at a time
The fewer barriers that stand in the way the better. Don’t overcomplicate it. As soon as something becomes difficult the less likely you are to keep doing it. Less barriers equals more progress.
Tip : Initially, choose something that doesn’t need equipment.
Schedule it
Routine goes hand in hand with new habit. Mark your exercise in your diary or set a reminder on your phone and make it part of your everyday routine.
Doing ten minutes of something today will improve your mood, increase your energy, and help you do more.
Is there a fast-track way to improve your work performance whilst getting a load of health benefits to boot?
If you want to take your workplace performance to the next level and want to get there fast, then we might just have the answer.
Many of our clients come to us with a goal of being a better CEO, Director, or Business Owner. They understand being the best version of themselves is key to achieving that goal. Many are short on time, need maximum ROI on the exercise they do and want the raft of health and productivity benefits that come with being fitter and healthier.
If you want to take the guesswork away, we can coach you through the entire process. It all starts with a 15-minute call to see how we can help.
