How Daily Exercise Boosts Workplace Well-Being and Performance
Introduction to Workplace Exercise
Employers are constantly seeking innovative ways to improve employee well-being and job performance. Research published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology reveals a compelling solution: encouraging daily physical exercise. This evidence-backed approach can lead to healthier, more engaged, and higher-performing teams, particularly on demanding workdays.
This blog explores the findings of the study, “A Daily Exercise Prescription When Work Gets Tough: The Moderating Effect of Work Demands on the Relationship Between Daily Physical Exercise and Next-Day Well-Being and Job Performance” (Li et al., 2024), and provides actionable strategies for employers to integrate exercise-friendly practices into their workplace environments.
The Effort–Recovery Model: A Foundation for Workplace Wellness
The study builds on the effort–recovery model, which suggests that employees expend mental and physical resources during work tasks, leading to fatigue and stress. Recovery activities, such as physical exercise, help replenish these resources, restoring employees to a state of optimal functioning. By incorporating daily exercise, employees can enhance positive emotions, reduce stress, and boost their ability to tackle the next day’s challenges.
Key benefits of daily exercise identified in the study include:
- Improved well-being: Employees who exercised felt more relaxed and energized the following day.
- Enhanced job performance: Both in-role tasks (core responsibilities) and organizational citizenship behavior (going above and beyond) improved.
- Resilience under high work demands: The benefits of exercise were most pronounced on demanding days, with greater gains seen in environments with challenge demands (e.g., deadlines or learning opportunities) versus hindrance demands (e.g., bureaucracy or office politics).
Why Employers Should Take Note
Employers have a vested interest in creating work environments where employees thrive. The data from this study underscores how exercise-friendly policies can directly impact organizational success by improving key performance metrics.
Applications Across Workplace Settings:
- Corporate Offices
- On-site fitness facilities: Provide gyms or exercise spaces for employees to use during lunch breaks or before/after work.
- Walking meetings: Encourage team discussions while walking to boost physical activity without interrupting workflow.
- Retail and Hospitality
- Flexible scheduling: Offer shifts that allow employees time for morning or post-work exercise.
- Step challenges: Implement wellness programs with rewards for employees who meet daily activity goals.
- Remote Work Settings
- Virtual workout sessions: Partner with fitness instructors to offer yoga or aerobics classes via video platforms.
- Ergonomic tools: Encourage movement with standing desks or under-desk pedal exercisers.
- Manufacturing and Physical Labor
- Stretch breaks: Incorporate short exercise routines during shift changes to help employees recover.
- On-site trainers: Hire professionals to teach proper lifting techniques and offer personalized fitness advice.
How to Build a Culture of Movement
- Lead by Example: Managers and leaders should model exercise-friendly behaviors, like using standing desks or participating in fitness programs.
- Incentivize Activity: Offer financial benefits, like discounted gym memberships or wellness stipends.
- Measure and Share Results: Use employee surveys to track improvements in well-being and performance, and share success stories to inspire others.
A Win-Win for Employers and Employees
By recognizing the relationship between daily exercise, well-being, and job performance, employers can unlock untapped potential in their workforce. The evidence is clear: investing in employee fitness is not just a wellness perk—it’s a strategic advantage.
Citation:
Li, Y. N., Zhu, J. N. Y., Su, Q., & Xu, Q. (2024). A daily exercise prescription when work gets tough: The moderating effect of work demands on the relationship between daily physical exercise and next-day well-being and job performance. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 29(5), 342–358. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000385