By Kelly Hodges
Want to increase your paycheck? Try going for a run. Researchers at Cleveland State University recently published a study showing that employees who exercised regularly earned 9% more than their colleagues who did not. The study controlled for body composition, meaning that the pay increase was not related to an enhanced physical appearance (it has already been shown that more physically attractive people earn more than their less attractive counterparts).
Since it is the exercise itself and not the improved body composition that seems to make the difference, the researchers conclude that it is the mental benefits of exercise that pay off in the paycheck. Those who exercised showed greater concentration, enhanced mental functioning, and higher energy levels than their more dormant coworkers. These mental benefits then presumably led to better job performance, which translated to higher pay.
For those who don’t find the litany of health benefits exercise provides motivation enough to get off the couch, perhaps this latest financial incentive may do the trick. It also gives workers (and employers) pause to consider how they allocate time on the job. Is a lunch hour better spent working on projects or heading out for a brisk jog to recharge the body and reinvigorate the mind? Further research is needed, but this is certainly interesting food for thought. And remember, expensive gym memberships or equipment are not needed to break a sweat, there are plenty of frugal ways to get in shape as well.
Related Reading: Physical Fitness the Frugal Way
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Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of her employer or any other person or entity.
