7 Effects When Entrepreneurs Exercise

We have all heard the benefits of exercising. There is even more incentive to incorporate an exercise routine into your daily regime, that will help you function more stealthily as an entrepreneur. Here are 7 positive effects when entrepreneurs exercise daily. You and your work will be enhanced when you carve out some time for a workout in-between meetings.

Energy

As an entrepreneur, we are constantly on the move and making things happen. Meetings, brainstorming sessions and midnight deadlines are a few of the activities that can keep us on the go. It’s energy that keeps our stamina in overdrive. Without it, we would burn out. Adding a workout to our daily routine is a great way to keep us energetic. There are many reasons that exercise increases energy, but according to Everyday Health, increase in endorphin levels and better heart health two reasons our energy is revved up when we exercise.

Health

Staying healthy is essential when you are running your own business. It might be okay to call out sick when you have a 9-5, but doing so as an entrepreneur can be drastic for a startup with just a few employees, or worst yet, just you! With all the networking and mingling we do, it’s easy to catch a cold or even the flu. Riding on public transportation, meeting up with colleagues for coffee and attending conferences are just a opportunities for germs to raid our bodies. Harvard Health Publishing reports that exercise promotes good circulation, “which allows the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.”

Memory

We’ve heard that a “mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Luckily as entrepreneurs our mind is always processing, from thinking up new ideas to strategizing an exit plan. Studies have shown that exercise can be good for the mind, especially the memory. The Guardian reports that even brief exercise can amp up our memory, “Scientists at the University of California studying brain activity found connectivity between parts of the brain responsible for memory formation and storage increased after a brief interval of light exercise – such as 10 minutes of slow walking, yoga or tai chi.”

Mood

If you find that a minute mishap at the office–such as the printer running out of paper or a dimmed light bulb–is enough to set you off, then you might not being getting in enough exercise. Mood swings can be a personality trait, but odds are it could be your activity level, especially if you have a sedentary role. Washington Post shares research on how exercise can help you feel better mentally because of those endorphins mentioned earlier. The article describes them as being “among the body’s natural opioids and circulate in greater numbers during exercise.”

Sleep

If you are having a difficult time getting to sleep, it might have something to do with how much exercise you are getting. Sleep is important to proper body function and making sure you stay alert during waking hours. John Hopkins Medical explains that it is important to exercise for better sleep, “Moderate aerobic exercise increases the amount of slow wave sleep you get. Slow wave sleep refers to deep sleep, where the brain and body have a chance to rejuvenate.”

Social

Entrepreneurs may not have much time to meet up and hang with friends, but coffee at the corner cafe and drinks at the local wine bar aren’t the only ways to mingle with your BFFs or colleagues. Exercise may be good way to connect, too. According to an article from Pop Sugar, exercising can help you work on existing friendships or make new ones, “The benefits of exercise go way beyond a killer bod and healthy heart; it can also help boost a sagging social life.”

Stress

I’ll never forget Kimberly Elise’s line in Tyler Perry’s film Diary of a Mad Black Woman, “You got me all stressed out, my hair falling out, my weight up and down, can’t keep anything down.” Stress can wreak havoc on our minds and bodies. However, exercise can help stave off stress and it comes down to those endorphins again. Yep, they not only affect energy and mood, but stress levels too. Mayo Clinic advises us to get moving to manage stress, “Physical activity helps bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Although this function is often referred to as a runner’s high, a rousing game of tennis or a nature hike also can contribute to this same feeling.”

By Mignon Gould

Mignon has been an online publisher and content strategist for more than a decade. Her work has been featured in myriad publications including TeenVogue.com and Forbes.com. Mignon enjoys working with fellow entrepreneurs and supporting them to launch and grow their businesses. Her faves include French macarons, embellished flats and film fashion.

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