Wellness activities could boost productivity levels — and profits

Good news: There’s more evidence that increased participation in employee wellness programs could directly affect your bottom line.  

Example: Going for a 30-minute run could improve employee productivity levels by 17%, found a study at Leeds Metropolitan University.

That’s just a half-hour sacrifice to get a return of an hour’s worth of work.

Spark participation

Want more juicy tidbits to get workers off their butts?

Share some of these findings compiled from studies by Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, the University of Georgia and University of Maryland, and fitness experts:

• Cycling boosts creative output. Employees should hold off on solving that tough problem and go for a ride. After a spinning or biking session, the brain is more inclined to come up with creative solutions to problems.
• Low-impact aerobics will reduce fatigue. Getting up and active actually boosts energy levels by as much as 20%. This is as easy as taking a walk or going for a few laps in the pool, and it’s healthier than downing another cup of coffee.
• Weight training helps keep stress levels down. Lifting weights or hitting the punching bag will release tension, and it helps the brain better cope with anxiety and stress.
• Yoga improves core strength, posture and self-esteem. Sitting at a desk all day is a known posture killer. While nailing each yoga pose may be difficult at first, in the end, employees come out standing – and feeling – taller.