Fitness For Productivity: Boost Your Health And Performance

With the launch of the Fit India Movement, the Prime Minister has encouraged Indians to be more active. It is a well-known fact that being active is good for health, but studies have shown that physical activity can also improve productivity. With the benefits of leading a more active lifestyle adding up, everyone should find a way to get more movement into their daily routine.

How does exercise improve productivity?

Over the past few years more research has gone into studying the correlation between mental and physical health. It has been found that there is a direct correlation between the two and when the mind is affected so is the body and vice versa. Anything that positively affects the body is good for the mind. As researcher looked deeper into the reason for this, they found three main way in which exercise positively impacts the brain.

The Generation Of Nerve Cells

The rate at which nerve cells or neurons are produced by the brain, slows down with age. However, people who exercise regularly have been found to continue to produce neurons at a faster rate even in their 70s and 80s. The production of neurons makes learning and understanding easier which helps with problem solving and creativity.

The Increase In Mitochondria

The second way exercise benefits the brain is by increasing the number of mitochondria in cells. Mitochondria are the parts of the cell that generate energy. The extra energy can be used by the mind for rational thinking and coming up with new ideas and innovations.

The Improvement Of Mood

The third benefit of exercise is the release of chemicals in the brain that improve mood and help with focus. When the mind can assimilate and process information fast and stay focussed, productivity also increases.

3 ways to stay active to increase productivity

Walk More

One of the simplest ways to add more activity to your daily routine is by walking more. If you already have a tight schedule you can try and fit a walk into your routine. Walk part of the way to and from work by getting down one bus stop earlier, or walking home from the train station. You can also take a brisk walk during your lunch break if possible. If these options don’t work for you, then try waking up half and hour earlier to fit in a brisk walk before you start your day.

Find A Workout Partner

Many workout routines fail because there is no one to keep a check on you. If you want to get into a serious workout routine then get a friend or a family member to work out with you and make sure that you don’t skip your exercise. If possible, find someone who already works out regularly and who will be able to get you back on track if you miss a few sessions.

Join A Group Class

Joining a group activity can be a lot of fun and something you enjoy doing. Whether it is dancing, aerobics, or even martial arts, being part of a group could be very encouraging and help you to stick with the activity in the long run.

Be more active and watch your productivity also start to increase.