Productivity Tip: Exercise to Feel Productive

Exercise can make you more productive. It depends on what type of activity you do, but those that you enjoy the most will not just make you productive but happy as well.

I enjoy cardio and activities like playing tennis, biking or doing a little bit of HIIT type of exercise, which all benefit my productivity levels hugely. At times HIIT exercise can make me tired, so I don't do it as often as others.

What exercise increases your productivity levels? That's the most crucial question. Most people will already know what type of exercise makes them productive. How? Everyone is different and enjoys different physical activities, and the key here is what makes you happy will increase your levels of productivity the most. 

Exercise certainly helps me with being productive. I end up completing more tasks and tick more off my to-do list during those times, which I feel great about. That's very important.

There have been numerous research studies done on the subject of exercise and productivity.

Research has shown that exercise increases your concentration by 21%, which is huge! It's also shown that you are over 20% more likely to finish your job on time. Most importantly, though, it motivates almost half of us to do our work well. That's gold for both us and employers! 

Type of Exercise 

In regards to types of exercise, research has shown that less strenuous and moderate exercise benefits productivity levels better than those who are challenging and for a long time. 

So when you see people going for a full-on run sweating and being out of breath by the end of it, it will most likely not help make their day more productive that day. If you do vigorous exercising, it can make you tired. 

What about when you should exercise?

It's a personal preference, but exercising in the morning will work wonders, and a brief exercise around lunchtime will lift your mood. We all experience energy decrease after lunchtime, so if you go for a short walk, you will feel energy rising. 

How long should you exercise for? Many people struggle to find an hour (or even 30 mins) to exercise each day, but research shows that 10 minutes a day is all you need to lift your productivity levels. 10 minutes only!

For people with irregular working hours, like most doctors, I'd like to share my tips on exercise for increasing productivity levels below.

I believe that with these tips, you can create a habit to exercise regularly to see a significant improvement in your productivity. 

• Shorter and more often is the key. Start small, five minutes of exercising each day is better than doing an hour of exercise only once a week. Five minutes a day is not a lot to ask, even if it's a walk around your workplace or building during your lunch break.

• Schedule this time in your calendar. This personally motivates me to exercise every day if I have it on my calendar. There's something to say about a written task and accountability. I'm more likely to complete a task if it's in my schedule.

• Choose to do what you enjoy the most. If exercising becomes a chore and your thoughts around it are "Why am I doing this today" or "I don't feel like doing this exercise", then it's not for you, and there is no point of doing it. I'm sure every person will have an exercise they love, like dancing, walking, biking, swimming, etc. Remember, 5 to 10 minutes per day is enough.

• Increase the time you exercise every fortnight. Start with five minutes every two weeks.