As counter-intuitive as it may seem, your mind could really use a break from hours of continuous effort, and instead, focus on activities that support your cognitive brilliance. One such habit is regular exercise. If you’re not convinced, take Evan Williams’s word for it – as the co-founder of Twitter, he certainly has a lot on his plate, and in order to work through mid-day productivity lags, he hits the gym.
Bill Gates loves the treadmill, Anna Wintour of Vogue plays tennis every morning, while Mark Zuckerberg works out at least five times per week. All of these people have achieved tremendous things in life, and it seems that this simple healthy habit has played a relevant role in their success. Let’s see how you can use consistent training to tap into your own productivity pools!
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It alleviates stress
Whether you work in a massive corporation or you run your own home business, you know how overwhelming it can be to work with difficult clients, handle negotiations, disgruntled customers, and the like. The stress of it all eventually hinders our progress and prevents us from replenishing our energy on a regular basis – that is, unless you find a way to vent your anxieties and get rid of the daily stress!
When you work out, you continuously need to overcome your limitations, build up your resilience to new challenges, and this process transfers to your everyday work as well. Just like your muscles adapt to meet the needs of more weight on the barbell, or an extra mile on the treadmill, your brain reorganizes in order to tackle your workload more efficiently.
It elevates your energy and mood
When you feel sluggish and downright exhausted by the end of your workday, a grueling workout is most likely the last thing on your mind. However, studies have shown that regular physical activity actually helps you reduce fatigue in several different ways and consequently improves your mood and energy levels.
First of all, the quality of your sleep will improve as the result of regular exercise, which means you’ll have more energy at your disposal. Add to that increased physical endurance and a faster metabolism, and you have the perfect blend for a better mood and more vigor to handle your daily work.
It’s a confidence-booster
With more energy, better physique, and greater resilience, isn’t it logical that you’ll feel much better in your own skin and much more eager to even tackle new challenges at work? As soon as you feel that you’re progressing, your motivation will skyrocket. This is especially relevant for people who opt for proper fitness clothing, as it puts you in the right frame of mind and serves as your “Superman” change of attire. You can easily find quality capri workout pants, a comfortable tank top, a pair of sneakers, and keep your gym bag packed and ready – this type of commitment will help you stay consistent and boost your confidence even more!
People with healthy levels of confidence are known to show more initiative, be more proactive at work, and ultimately, rely on their competence to get the job done. Although it’s a long way from insecure to completely confident, regular physical activity is an irreplaceable part of the motivation puzzle to allow yourself to outgrow your self-hindering mindset.
It protects and betters your brain
As we grow older, our brain’s ability to produce new cells, also known as neurogenesis, is naturally diminished. In simple terms, that means we can no longer learn and retain knowledge with the same ease and speed, and our memory is also affected. However, regular endurance exercise, such as jogging, running, or cycling, has been found to improve neurogenesis later in life. In short, you’ll have more neurons to work with, and your cognitive capacity will be improved.
The sooner you hit the gym, the greater your chances of minimizing and putting off the effects of aging on your mind. Of course, with a resilient brain and ability to learn comes a great advantage in the workplace, and even the short-term perks of regular exercise on your cognitive capacity will be apparent, as you’ll work with more clarity, improved focus, and better memory as a result!
It boosts the level of happy hormones
When you work out on a regular basis, your body produces chemicals endorphins, which are commonly known as the happy hormones. At the same time, they have a powerful effect on elevating your mood and making you feel invigorated, while they also have a soothing effect, much like a painkiller, making your more impervious to pain. Various forms of exercise, such as dancing, swimming, yoga, and aerobics all help your body produce more endorphins.
Their impact, however, spans well beyond your workout – when you feel more energized, you will also be able to think more sharply, and you’ll be much more motivated to keep working even when you come across a roadblock.
Life can often become overwhelming, but sometimes a simple choice, such as stepping on a treadmill instead of getting stuck at a desk, can make a huge difference in changing your mindset as well as your ability to cope. Do yourself a favor and try out that fitness regime – your career will thank you for it.
This post was written by Luke, a fitness and health blogger at Ripped.me and a great fan of the gym and a healthy diet. He follows the trends in fitness, gym, and healthy life and loves to share his knowledge through useful and informative articles. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
