It has become common knowledge that exercise is an important part of living a long and healthy life. Though for many people, finding time to go to the gym lands at the bottom of a long and arduous list of work priorities and other to-dos. As a result, exercise is often the first thing to go by the wayside when we are faced with a busy day.

But just how beneficial can exercise be? And is our prioritization of exercise a logical approach to productivity? Recent research suggests that exercise can have drastic effects on not only our physical well-being but also our mental and cognitive abilities. It has been found that moderate physical activity throughout the week can significantly improve:

1. Mood

Nobody likes to be around the office grump, and the office grump likely isn’t having the best time either. The business world revolves around interpersonal interactions with colleagues and clients, and positive relationships are at the heart of business success. Research suggests that the serotonin released by moderate physical exercise is enough to elevate mood, reduce anxiety and stress, and combat depression, thus directly contributing to a more positive and stress-free day at the office.

2. Memory

Aerobic exercise has also been found to boost and sharpen the brain’s ability to learn and remember. Without delving too deep into the science, it is believed that aerobic exercise stimulates the growth and regeneration of brain cells through increased circulation and protein production. For you and me, that means exercise can play a significant role in learning tough mental concepts more quickly or strengthening our understanding of daily tasks.

3. Productivity

Exercise also sharpens the mind by increasing mental awareness and energy levels, which means a more productive day at the office devoid of the usual 2 PM coffee binge. Jim McKenna, a professor of health at the Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK, found that office workers who found time to exercise—even just 30 minutes a day of the exercise of their choice—were found to perform better than their counterparts who received no exercise. Performance metrics measured time management skills, cognitive abilities, and the timely completion of projects.

Exercise as an Investment

Employers, employees, and everyone in between can help contribute to the evolution of how we think about exercise and how we prioritize it in the workplace. Exercise should be viewed as an investment into our physical and mental health, contributing to increased productivity, mood, and mental sharpness.

To reinforce these goals and encourage our employees to live balanced and healthy lives, Koddi offers employees reimbursement plans to LA Fitness, a gym that is within walking distance of our office. The office is also within a mile distance of at least ten different fitness studios and the Trinity Trails. It is not uncommon for our employees to spend their lunch hour playing a game of pick-up basketball, lifting weights, or running on the nearby trail. We are confident that the investment in personal fitness not only leads to happier, healthier employees, but also a more efficient and positive work environment.

Want to work for Koddi?

We’re looking for smart and passionate people to join our team. Check out our careers page to see our current openings and apply today.