Healthier AND Wealthier?
It’s the modern Faustian bargain – furthering your career at the expense of your health. Pizza and Chinese from Seamless web at your desk, all-nighters working on a huge deal, constant travel, no time for the gym even though it’s in your building – do these unhealthy behaviors sound familiar? As a personal trainer, all too often I work with clients who’ve traded their health for the chance to get ahead in their careers.
But is this really necessary? Not necessarily, according to scientists.
Recent findings from the British Medical Journal, the California Center for Population Research, and the University of Helsinki all point to similar conclusions – poor health and obesity was associated with lower earnings (particularly for women with higher education or upper-level white collar positions). In other words, health affects income in a real, measurable way. But does lower income lead to poor health or does poor health lead to lower income? These articles argue that, even among people with otherwise high earning potential, poor health and an associated decline on productivity due to more sick days, higher medical costs and lower levels of energy lead to lower income.
It has long been established that regular exercise is essential to promote physical health and well-being. But how can exercise improve your productivity at work?
Less sick time – Regular exercise can help boost your immune system by increasing production of white blood cells, which fight infections and antigens. A study in the American Journal of Medicine found that postmenopausal women who exercised regularly had half the risk of catching colds as women who did not exercise.
Happier attitude – Exercise has been linked to improved mood (one study from 2001 found mood improved after as little as 10 minutes of exercise). Another study from The Journal of Preventive Medicine showed that individuals who exercised 2-3 times per week scored higher on mental health questionnaires than those who did not exercise.
More energy – Overall, people who exercise (particularly those who engage in strength training) report more energy and a better sense of well-being than those who don’t. Researchers from the University of Georgia found that the resulting improvement in energy and decline in fatigue from regular exercise outperformed the effects of stimulant medications. All groups of people studied showed measurable improvement, including those who had preexisting medical conditions like chronic fatigue, diabetes, and heart disease.
By making time for regular exercise (even a few times a week) and committing yourself to healthier eating, you can make sure you get paid what you’re worth, and that you’re still in the shape to enjoy it.
Contributed by Eugene Thong, CSCS
