There are certain skills you must have in order to succeed as a business executive. For example, you need to be good at problem solving, have leadership ability, and be adaptable. Even if you’re working long hours or traveling, you could work out using virtual personal training. But have you considered whether or not working out regularly could also make you better at your job? Whether you can’t remember the last time you got on a bike or triathlons are a regular part of your life, there are a number of professional benefits to working out.
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1- Practice Setting Goals
Setting goals is an important element of working out. It might be goals for miles run, weight lifted, pushups completed, or time walking. The goals themselves don’t matter as much as the fact that you become better at setting small, medium, and long-term goals and working toward them. You can transfer what you learn about setting goals to the workplace.
2- Builds Stamina
Being a business executive means working hard, and working hard requires stamina. Regular exercise helps you build and maintain that stamina. It also helps remind you that pushing ahead past obstacles is as much a mental game as it is a physical one.
3- Boosting Creative Thinking
Physical activity is great for improving your creative thinking. You’ve probably experienced this if you’ve ever gone for a walk and managed to work out a thorny problem along the way. Sometimes, you don’t even need to specifically be thinking about the problem that you’re trying to solve to get the benefits. You’ll just return from your workout and find that the answer is now clear.
4- Stress Reduction
Being a business executive is rewarding but stressful. Working out regularly is a great way to reduce stress. It can make you feel better emotionally, as well as having such physical effects as lowering your blood pressure. When your stress is lower, your work is better.
5- Better Sleep
Being a good business executive isn’t just about the hours that you put in. You need to be well-rested as well. Exercise tires you out physically, and that helps you sleep better.
6- Relationship and Team Building
If you’re doing any kind of physical activity that involves other people, you’re building relationships. Some of those relationships might end up directly helping you in your line of work. Even if they don’t, the skills are invaluable. The same goes for team building. For example, if you play on an amateur soccer team, working together as a group with your teammates improves skills that you can carry back into the workplace.
7- Improved Focus and Concentration
As is the case with creative thinking and problem solving, working out improves your concentration. If you’re struggling to focus on a challenging task, instead of gritting your teeth and trying harder, try stepping away from your desk and doing a workout. You may be surprised to find how much better your concentration is afterwards.
It’s easy to convince yourself that the key to success in business is filling every spare moment with work-related activities. However, there are many more benefits to stepping away from the desk and doing something physical. If you make working out a regular part of your routine, you will see all of the above benefits and more.