by | Jul 15, 2013 | 6 comments

Due to yesterday’s beast of a post on how to cook for a group, I’m going to keep today’s Motivation Monday relatively short.  Enjoy! motivation monday

We all know that work makes it more difficult to stick to a healthy lifestyle – it can mean rolling out of bed far earlier than you’d like to fit in an early workout, planning ahead to bring healthy food to work or seeking out healthy options on the go, squeezing in a workout at the end of a tiring work day, and dealing with more stress and less sleep than you’d like.  But for most of us, work is a necessity, and with some advanced planning, commitment, and dedication, it IS possible to lead a healthy lifestyle, even with the most demanding of jobs.

The relationship between work and health doesn’t have to be all negative, though … did you know that living a healthy lifestyle will actually improve your performance at work?  I found these three fascinating statistics in magazine articles (I don’t always believe everything magazines report, but these seem to be legit … and yes, I’ve been saving magazine articles for several years in case I ever started a blog!).

  1.  Employees who exercised 3+ times per week earn 9% more than their counterparts who do not exercise.  This TIME article explains the study well.  earn more by working outwork out earn more
  2. People who do not eat a healthy diet are 66% more likely to be unproductive on the job.  And those who rarely eat fruits and vegetables are 93% more likely to have a loss in productivity! This press release from Brigham Young University sheds a bit more light. healthy diet leads to productivity
  3. Employees who regularly exercise are only half as likely as non-exercisers to feel burned out on the job.  Even with limited online attention given to this particular study, there is tons of research to confirm that exercise lifts mood and motivation (plus, I do think that Men’s Health has high-quality information in general).  working out feeling less drained

In my personal experience, eating healthily and fitting in exercise definitely makes me more productive and feel more positive.  So tell me in the comments … do you think that a healthy lifestyle improves your performance at work?  What are you going to do this week to eat healthily and live actively?

6 Comments

  1. Carina

    I couldn’t agree more that getting in my daily workout makes me more productive and feel more positive at work and I’m so happy to be in a job now where I can do that. I’ve worked in a job before where it would have been impossible (working all night at the office, sleeping on the floor for two hours while waiting for word processing night staff to make my revisions at 3 a.m., billing more than 16 hours in a day sometimes, ugh!, and I know my sister had the same thing during her residency). I knew at the bottom of my heart that it was going to kill me if I did it for more than 10 years. Balance is so much better! Now even on weeks with international travel, which can be a beating, I’m able to find ways to fit it in, knowing it’s good for me AND for whoever I’m working with/for.

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Wow, Carina, that sounds unbearable! I can definitely relate to regular 16-hour days, but sleeping on the floor sounds miserable! I feel very fortunate to be able to leave the office by 8ish each night and finish up from my hotel room – SO much better, even if I’m still working into the wee hours. I’m glad you’re in a more positive situation now. And I love what you said about knowing it’s good for you and those you’re working with – SO true! My colleagues always laugh because they can tell if I’ve accidentally slept through a workout :). Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  2. Michelle Q.

    I randomly woke up at 5:30am this morning and while checking my email in bed and deciding if I should go for a swim, I saw this post in my inbox and it gave me the motivation to get out of bed! Thanks Megan!

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      This makes my day, Michelle … glad you got in a swim! Now if only I could get motivated to get back in the pool … such a great workout! Hope you did your squats, too :).

      Reply
  3. Gary

    Having worked in the same sedentary job for the last 35 years, there is no question that my regular exercise routine gives me more energy and stamina, as well as eases the daily stress of the workplace. During the few times that I have been forced to back off due to injuries, I quickly see old age accelerating its inevitable creep upon me!

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Old age? Gary? No way, not in the same sentence :). All kidding aside, I totally agree with you. Thanks for commenting!

      Reply

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Megan Lyons Headshot

Hi! I'm Megan Lyons,

the voice behind The Lyons’ Share. I love all things health, wellness, and fitness-related, and I hope to share some of my passion with you. Thanks for stopping by!
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