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Studies do believe that physical exercises keep us healthy but did you know that physical activities can heighten productivity levels in all areas of your lives too?
Along with giving more energy and reducing stress, physical exercise boosts work performance, keeps the momentum going and enhances mental capacity. Not to mention how it stops that afternoon fatigue slump we go through mainly post lunch hour.
In this podcast, LeAnn Smith talks about how physical exercises and productivity go hand in hand. She is of the view that physical activities affect a person's productivity, which makes it a key factor for leaders to motivate their employees.
Key Takeaways
- The sedentary office is engineered for dysfunction. LeAnn is blunt: the human body is not built to sit. Commute, desk, laptop, phone — the positions stack, which is why chronic back, shoulder, neck, and hip issues dominate today's knowledge-worker health complaints.
- Five-to-ten-minute walking breaks are the cheapest productivity lever. She recommends converting in-person and Zoom meetings into walking meetings. Movement clears brain fog and gives managers processing time on problems that desks won't solve.
- A wellness culture has to start at the top. LeAnn says a healthy workforce is hard to retrofit — if the existing culture doesn't champion movement, the shift has to come from senior leaders modelling it. Employees follow what they see leaders doing.
- Incentives do the heavy lifting for the unmotivated middle. She concedes "healthier" alone will not move most employees. Organizations need points, rewards, challenges, or on-site resources (gym, trainers, yoga, body composition testing) to bridge the gap between intention and habit.
- Step challenges work because they are competitive, simple, and trackable. Her prescription for employers starting from zero: begin with step challenges. They meet people where they are and create the accountability loop most employees need.
- Wearables cut both ways. LeAnn has seen fitness trackers push exhausted employees to overreach because "I have to hit the number today." She treats body-listening as the skill wearables should support, not replace.
- Virtual is here to stay — but so is the gym. Her own practice is 90% virtual; the flexibility is why her clients made it through lockdowns. Hybrid models (in-person class plus Zoom seat) are the smart design — good for the business, good for the consumer.
In LeAnn's Words
On the physical cost of knowledge work
The human body is not intended to be sedentary. It is not intended to sit. In order for it to function properly, it must move — which is why we're seeing chronic back, shoulder, neck, and hip issues. We sit when we commute, we sit for long periods when we work, and we're hunched over our phones all day.
That afternoon slump doesn't have to happen if we take a little break to go out, take the body out, start to move a bit.
On the business case for movement
Happier, more productive employees are the ones able to take breaks throughout the day to recharge the mind and body. Employees that are physically, mentally, emotionally healthy are more focused and more productive.
Having a workforce or a culture in your organization that supports and encourages physical activity can actually make your company a core of interest for people to want to come work there. It starts from the top down — leaders encouraging and leading by example.
On building the program
For many employees, you have to give them an incentive. The incentive may not be being healthier — it may be something else. As an organization, you have to figure out what the incentive is for the employee.
Challenges are a great way because all of us are a little competitive. A step challenge is always a great one — it's easy, it's easy to track, and it's an easy way for people to start getting into it.
On technology and wearables
I've seen fitness trackers become a negative — people push themselves too hard without listening to their body, saying "I'm exhausted but I'm still going to push myself because I have to reach my number today."
My business is 90% virtual. My clients love it. Is it for everyone? No. Just because a tracker or a form of technology is available doesn't mean it's right for you.
On the long view
Being healthy, living a balanced healthy life, is not short term. It is life. Don't beat yourself up. Be consistent and enjoy the process. Find movement and activities you enjoy — when you do activities you enjoy, you're more prone to do them consistently.
About the Speaker
LeAnn offers Corporate Wellness solutions for organizations of all sizes. With over fourteen years of corporate Human Resources experience, she brings a wealth of corporate, organizational knowledge and understanding, as well as the ability to provide customized and engaging health and wellness solutions.
And, as a certified Health and Nutrition Coach from Integrative Institute of Nutrition and Precision Nutrition together with having a 200-hour yoga certification, LeAnn has a vast array of health and wellness experience and education. She has spent the last eleven years working with clients to adapt and support them in building healthier and happier lifestyles.
Connect with her on Linkedin.
Show Notes
(01:19): So tell us about your experience as a Health and Nutrition Coach and how has it been spending so many years of your life in this field?
(02:25): Now, moving on to the topic, according to you, what is the significance of physical activity in today’s world?
(04:29): Talking about physical activity and its importance in the current world, do you think there is any correlation between physical activity and productivity?
(07:03): How does physical exercise increase productivity?
(10:45): Having discussed exercises and productivity, how does physical activity boost work outcomes? Isn't it better for the entire organization?
(16:33): As we know, employers these days are concerned about their employees’ wellbeing, so what do you think they can do to motivate employees towards doing more physical activity?
(19:38): What role does technology play in physical activity and productivity? And what is your take on digital health?
(26:05) With this, we conclude this episode, so would you like to give any suggestions to our listeners?
(27:24): If our listeners want to reach you, where would they be able to?
