Why Business Owners Should Incorporate Exercise Into Daily Routines
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
As business professionals, we run on strict schedules. For me, having a daily routine and a schedule I can fall back on has been even more important since the onset of the pandemic. In fact, research shows that doing the same repetitive actions every day not only benefits your physical health, but those actions can also improve your mental health by reducing overall stress levels.
While our schedules and routines all vary, we probably have some similarities – shower, brush teeth, eat breakfast or drink coffee. But, how important is it to incorporate exercise in our daily routine?
Whether it’s at morning or at night, for 20 minutes or 60 minutes, incorporating some form of intentional movement into your daily routine has monumental benefits as a business owner. Exercise has always been a part of my habits, but it wasn’t until I incorporated it in a more mindful way that things started to click in other ways. As a business owner, I thrive on routine and my mind and body are no different when it comes to having a strong foundation with my exercise routine.
Below are three reasons why business professionals – and especially business owners – should incorporate some type of fitness into their daily routine.
Makes you a better leader.
We all know that there are several health benefits to working out, but incorporating exercise into your daily routine can make you a more effective leader in the workplace. According to the Center for Creative Leadership, leaders who exercise regularly were rated significantly higher by their bosses, peers and direct reports on their leadership effectiveness than those who didn’t routinely work out. Investing time outside of the office to work up a sweat correlates with higher ratings of leadership effectiveness.
Don’t have time for a full 60-minute workout? Shorter, multiple bursts of intensive exercise can be just as impactful as longer, less intensive workouts. Prioritizing a healthy lifestyle and incorporating an exercise routine helps business owners better manage the stresses and demands of their everyday life.
Relieves stress.
Unfortunately, stress is all too common for business professionals. Stress can lead to having trouble focusing, thinking clearly and making important business decisions. According to a recent study, 80% of people feel stress from their jobs, with nearly half reporting they need help learning how to manage that stress.
Exercise all by itself can reduce stress levels, as it pumps up your endorphins, reduces negative effects of stress and acts as meditation in motion. With so many stress-relieving benefits, it’s important for business owners to make it a priority to incorporate some form of exercise into their daily routines.
Gives you more energy.
As a mom of two, I am always looking for ways to boost my overall energy. While the best time to work out is what works best for you, incorporating it into your morning routine has shown lasting benefits to overall energy levels for the day ahead. Working out in the morning allows you to reap the mental benefits of exercise all day long and also kickstart your metabolism for the day. And while some may think that working out in the morning depletes your energy, it actually does the opposite; regular exercise increases circulation, strengthens your heart and releases endorphins, leading to added endurance that will power you through even the busiest of days. Studies show that even 20 minutes of low impact exercise, like walking, can increase energy levels by 20% and decrease fatigue by 65%. Imagine the lasting impact that could have if you did that every day.
Adding another step into your daily routine may seem daunting, but the benefits outweigh all else. Not only does working out make you a more effective leader, but it also helps relieve stress and boosts overall energy. As business owners, we may be tempted to dive into our work and push aside our routine, but staying dedicated to your physical commitments will strengthen your mental state, minimize and relieve stress, and support your business leadership. There are workout routines for every type of lifestyle; what’s most important is finding a sustainable routine for you.
Leslie Lupton, Owner of Physique 57 Indianapolis Leslie has over 20 years of experience providing guidance to media companies such as Spotify, Viacom, WebMD and more as a Digital Ad Revenue Operations Consultant. When Leslie’s family moved from New York to Carmel, Indiana in 2019, she took her business experience and passion for wellness to open Physique 57’s first Midwest franchise location to help the Indianapolis community make wellness a priority.