The early bird catches the worm right? Well, some of the most successful people in the world attribute their increased productivity levels at work to starting their day with some form of exercise.
Richard Branson - Virgin Group, kicks off his working day at 6am with a run and likewise with Michelle Gass - CEO and Director of Kohl's Corporation. Not to mention, the world's top paid actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnston getting on the elliptical at 4am!
Below, in no particular order, are 5 reasons why you should consider getting out from beneath the sheets and getting moving before logging on;
Creativity- Studies have shown that exercise can increase mental clarity, focus and even memory. Exercise increases the blood flow to the brain meaning that you become more alert and aware of what's going on. The study from Bristol University found that after exercising, performance at work was consistently higher as was time management and mental sharpness for up to 10 hours in some individuals!
Decision Making- You will make better decisions and be able to prioritise tasks easier. The endorphins that are released when exercising also improve the prioritising function of the brain. So by exercising you're activating your ability to prioritise tasks and get things done in an organised manner.
Stress - It doesn't matter what is causing you stress, if you don't get it under control then it will do some serious damage to your health - both mentally and physically. However, exercise will help the way your body deals with that stress. It will boost your feel good endorphins, help you put aside thinking about work for the duration of your activity and improve your mood.
Discipline - Time is something that we're all short of, and who realistically wants to head out a run or to an overcrowded gym at 5pm after an 8 hour shift at work? or, even worse, in the new remote world we are living in - do we really leave the house at 5pm after we have been sitting about in our loungewear all day? The answer… nobody. Working out and making the effort to get into a morning routine will not only create discipline, it will save time, and make you feel more energised throughout the day! Studies have shown that morning exercise helps to better control appetite and cravings throughout the day and may help you to feel fuller after meals. Meaning you will be able to resist that extra biscuit in the office, or that random trip in the fridge when working from home!
Sleep- Extensive studies have shown exercise will help improve sleep patterns, especially if you suffer from insomnia. But as well as helping you get to sleep, it will also help improve the quality of sleep that you get. Poor sleep won't just make you feel tired and sluggish, it can also have some pretty serious knock on effects on your health, productivity and food choices. Regular exercise is the key to improving your sleep sessions so make sure that you find a routine that works and stick to it.